Diagnostic Use
Therapeutic drug monitoring is not necessary to guide routine paracetamol use for fever or pain control. However, plasma/serum paracetamol concentration should be used to assess the need for acetylcysteine administration in all patients presenting with deliberate self-poisoning with paracetamol, regardless of the stated dose.
The minimum time for assessment of levels after ingestion is 4 hours. Beware of incomplete absorption prior to 4 hours post ingestion. Specimens collected earlier than 4 hours may not indicate the peak serum concentration.
The nomogram below can only be used in acute immediate release paracetamol ingestions with a known time of ingestion. In case of acute modified release paracetamol ingestion or repeated supratherapeutic ingestion, different management protocol/flow chart should apply – refer to your local centre for most up-to-date information.
NOTE:
– Treat patients with paracetamol concentrations on or above the nomogram treatment line with acetylcysteine infusion (see local protocol).
– Massive paracetamol overdoses that result in high paracetamol concentrations more than double the nomogram line are at increased risk of acute liver injury and may benefit from an increased dose of acetylcysteine. Consult local protocol/management flow chart. A paracetamol concentration should also be repeated.
Jaundiced patients (total bilirubin >300 umol/L) may show false-positive paracetamol results.
Paracetamol toxicity or N-acetycysteine can negatively interfere with some assay including creatinine (enzymatic), lactate, urate, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol and triglyceride. Exercise caution when interpreting these results.
Test Method
Principle: Colorimetric
Reagents: Siemens Atellica CH Acetaminophen
Analyser: Siemens Atellica Solution (NSH) and Atellica CI (WTH)
Limitations / Interference
Increased total bilirubin may have an effect on paracetamol results, increasing the concentration by approximately 12%.
The presence of metamizole (sulpyrine) in serum or plasma may cause falsely elevated results.