Skip Ribbon Commands
Skip to main content
Sign In
Navigate Up

22153 Acetaminophen

Acetaminophen
Test Code: ACETA
Synonyms/Keywords
Datril, Tylenol​
Useful For
Acetaminophen is an analgesic, antipyretic drug.  It rarely requires therapeutic monitoring, but is frequently found in overdose cases, particularly accidental ingestion in children.  With large doses, liver toxicity can result. 
Levels most accurately predict toxicity when sample is drawn between 4 and 12 hours after ingestion. Samples drawn less than 4 hours after ingestion may be misleading, as the peak concentration has not been reached.​
Specimen Requirements
Fasting RequiredSpecimen TypePreferred Container/TubeAcceptable Container/TubeSpecimen VolumeSpecimen Minimum Volume
(allows for 1 repeat)		Pediatric Minimum Volume
(no repeat)
​NoPlasma/Serum​Lithium-heparin Plasma Separator Tube (PST)

Serum Separator Tube (SST)

Red Top Tube (RTT)

Lithium or Sodium-heparin Green Top Tube (GTT)
 
EDTA Lavender Top Tube (LTT)​
0.5 mL​0.3 mL​​
Collection Processing Instructions
Serum/Plasma must be separated from cells within 2 hours of collection.​
Specimen Stability Information
Specimen Type Temperature Time
Serum/Plasma​ ​ ​ Ambient​ 8 hours​
Refrigerate​ 7 days​
Frozen​ >7 days​
Performing Laboratory Information
Performing Location Day(s) Test Performed Analytical Time Methodology/Instrumentation
Weston​ ​Monday through Sunday​ ​Less than 2 hours​ ​Enzymatic Hyrolysis using Bichormoatic Endpoint Technique/Siemens Dimension
​Eau Claire ​Monday through Sunday ​Less than 2 hours Emit* Tox Rate Assay/Beckman AU
Park Falls​​ ​Monday through Sunday​ ​Less than 2 hours​ Emit* Tox Rate Assay/Beckman AU
​Ladysmith Medical Center ​Monday through Sunday ​Less than 2 hours Emit* Tox Rate Assay/Beckman AU​
Lakeview Medical Center​ ​Monday through Sunday​ ​Less than 2 hours​ ​Emit* Tox Rate Assay/Beckman AU
Marshfield​ Monday through Sunday​ Less than 2 hours​ Emit* Tox Rate Assay/Beckman AU
​Minocqua​Monday through Sunday​Less than 2 hours​Emit* Tox Rate Assay/Beckman AU
​Neillsville​Monday through Sunday​Less than 2 hours​Enzymatic Hyrolysis using Bichormoatic Endpoint Technique/Siemens Dimension

​Steven's Point
​Monday through Sunday​
​Less than 2 hours
​Emit* Tox Rate Assay/Beckman AU​
Reference Range Information
Performing Location Reference Range
All Performing Sites

Therapeutic Range: <10 ug/mL
Non-toxic: <50 ug/mL at 12 hours post-ingestion.​

See Critical Value List for list of current critical values

Interpretation
Liver damage is likely if >50 ug/mL at 12 hours or >200 ug/mL at 4 hours.​
Outreach CPTs
CPT Modifier
(if needed)		 Quantity Description Comments
80143 ​ ​1 ​ ​
Synonyms/Keywords
Datril, Tylenol​
Ordering Applications
Ordering Application Description
​Centricity
​Acetaminophen (Tylenol)
    and
Acetaminophen
​Cerner ​Acetmainophen Level (COMMON)
​COM ​Acetaminophen
If the ordering application you are looking for is not listed, contact your local laboratory for assistance.
Specimen Requirements
Fasting RequiredSpecimen TypePreferred Container/TubeAcceptable Container/TubeSpecimen VolumeSpecimen Minimum Volume
(allows for 1 repeat)		Pediatric Minimum Volume
(no repeat)
​NoPlasma/Serum​Lithium-heparin Plasma Separator Tube (PST)

Serum Separator Tube (SST)

Red Top Tube (RTT)

Lithium or Sodium-heparin Green Top Tube (GTT)
 
EDTA Lavender Top Tube (LTT)​
0.5 mL​0.3 mL​​
Collection Processing
Serum/Plasma must be separated from cells within 2 hours of collection.​
Specimen Stability Information
Specimen Type Temperature Time
Serum/Plasma​ ​ ​ Ambient​ 8 hours​
Refrigerate​ 7 days​
Frozen​ >7 days​
Useful For
Acetaminophen is an analgesic, antipyretic drug.  It rarely requires therapeutic monitoring, but is frequently found in overdose cases, particularly accidental ingestion in children.  With large doses, liver toxicity can result. 
Levels most accurately predict toxicity when sample is drawn between 4 and 12 hours after ingestion. Samples drawn less than 4 hours after ingestion may be misleading, as the peak concentration has not been reached.​
Reference Range Information
Performing Location Reference Range
All Performing Sites

Therapeutic Range: <10 ug/mL
Non-toxic: <50 ug/mL at 12 hours post-ingestion.​

See Critical Value List for list of current critical values

Interpretation
Liver damage is likely if >50 ug/mL at 12 hours or >200 ug/mL at 4 hours.​
For more information visit:
Performing Laboratory Information
Performing Location Day(s) Test Performed Analytical Time Methodology/Instrumentation
Weston​ ​Monday through Sunday​ ​Less than 2 hours​ ​Enzymatic Hyrolysis using Bichormoatic Endpoint Technique/Siemens Dimension
​Eau Claire ​Monday through Sunday ​Less than 2 hours Emit* Tox Rate Assay/Beckman AU
Park Falls​​ ​Monday through Sunday​ ​Less than 2 hours​ Emit* Tox Rate Assay/Beckman AU
​Ladysmith Medical Center ​Monday through Sunday ​Less than 2 hours Emit* Tox Rate Assay/Beckman AU​
Lakeview Medical Center​ ​Monday through Sunday​ ​Less than 2 hours​ ​Emit* Tox Rate Assay/Beckman AU
Marshfield​ Monday through Sunday​ Less than 2 hours​ Emit* Tox Rate Assay/Beckman AU
​Minocqua​Monday through Sunday​Less than 2 hours​Emit* Tox Rate Assay/Beckman AU
​Neillsville​Monday through Sunday​Less than 2 hours​Enzymatic Hyrolysis using Bichormoatic Endpoint Technique/Siemens Dimension

​Steven's Point
​Monday through Sunday​
​Less than 2 hours
​Emit* Tox Rate Assay/Beckman AU​
For billing questions, see Contacts
Outreach CPTs
CPT Modifier
(if needed)		 Quantity Description Comments
80143 ​ ​1 ​ ​
For most current information refer to the Marshfield Laboratory online reference manual.