A Review of Methods for Plasma Paracetamol Estimation

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Abstract
Paracetamol, alternatively referred to as N-acetyl-p-aminophenol or acetaminophen, is now a commonly used analgesic, which is readily available to the public without prescription. It may also be found in the body as a metabolite of acetanilide or phenacetin. Its hepatotoxicity when ingested in large amounts had led to considerable interest in the measurement of plasma concentrations in cases of overdose, and consequently much information on methodology has accumulated over the last few years. Recently, new procedures have been introduced for the assay of paracetamol in plasma and much modification of these and older methods has occurred in response to the demand for improved techniques. At present no single method stands out as offering all-round advantages over the others, and ultimately the choice of method will depend on prevailing circumstances in the laboratory and the clinical situations in which the assay is to be used.