Acetaminophen is a common drug used in many formulations due to its analgesic and antipyretic properties. Chronic excessive use of acetaminophen can result in hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity. Overdosage can lead to severe hepatic damage and hepatic failure if untreated. Early diagnosis of acetaminophen induced hepatotoxicity is important since initiation of therapy within 16 hours of ingestion lessens the potential for hepatic injury and decreases the mortality rate. Therefore, a rapid and accurate determination of acetaminophen is needed.
Toxic manifestations have been observed at serum concentrations > 100 μg/mL (> 662 μmol/L), however the toxic range is generally reported at > 200 μg/mL (> 1324 μmol/L).
Toxic concentrations can be more effectively related to post dose interval; > 200, > 100, and > 50 μg/mL (> 1324, > 662, and > 331 μmol/L) serum concentrations correspond to toxic concentrations at 4, 8, and 12 hours post dose, respectively.
The therapeutic range varies and has been reported to be 10 to 30 μg/mL (66 to 199 μmol/L).
| Micromole per liter | µmol/L = mcmol/L = umol/L = µM/L = mcM/L = uM/L = micromol/L |
| Microgram per milliliter | µg/mL = mcg/mL = ug/mL = microg/mL = microgram/mL |
| Milligram per deciliter | mg/dL = millig/dL = milligram/dL |
| Milligram per 100 milliliters | mg/100mL = millig/100mL = milligram/100mL |
| Milligram percent | mg% = millig% = milligram% |