Acetaminophen, Serum Synonyms Anacin-3®; Datril®; Liquiprin®; Paracetamol; Tempra®; Tylenol®

Laboratory Core Laboratory

Request Form Routine Blood Requisition

Phone (212) 305-8600

Availability Daily, 24 hours

Turnaround Time 4 hours

Specimen Blood

Volume 4 mL

Minimum Volume 1 mL

Container Gold top tube or two gold top Microtainers^TM

Reference Range Therapeutic: 10-30

g/mL

Critical Values Values

200: called immediately; toxic: >150

g/mL (within 4 hours); toxic: >50

g/mL (within 12 hours)

Use Monitor therapeutic drug level; evaluate toxicity. The best indicator of acetaminophen toxicity is to measure the drug half-life by analyzing a blood level taken 4 hours postingestion, then a second level 3-4 hours later. Half-lives exceeding 4 hours are consistent with hepatic necrosis.

Methodology Enzyme-multiplied immunosorbent technique (EMIT)