title: Development and validation of an automated enzyme assay for paracetamol (acetaminophen).
abstract: A rapid, enzymatic assay for serum or plasma paracetamol has been developed with the potential for adaptation to a wide range of clinical analysers. The method involves the action of an amidase enzyme to produce 4-aminophenol from paracetamol, which in turn reacts with 8-hydroxyquinoline in the presence of manganese ions to form a blue dye. Two stable reagents are used and excellent precision is achieved over the drug concentration range 0-2.5 mmol/l. The method, which is complete within 6 min, has been validated using a Monarch centrifugal analyser and shows no significant interference from endogenous serum compounds, drugs or paracetamol metabolites.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Biochemistry, London Hospital Medical College, UK.
authors.forename: H C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Morris
authors.forename: P D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Overton
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Ramsay
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Campbell
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Hammond
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Atkinson
authors.forename: C P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Price
mesh_terms: D000082:Acetaminophen / Q000097:blood*; D000581:Amidohydrolases; D001322:Autoanalysis; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D006801:Humans; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D015203:Reproducibility of Results
chemical_list: D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D000082:Acetaminophen; D000581:Amidohydrolases; C019732:aryl acylamidase