Spectrophotometric screening method for acetaminophen in serum and plasma.

We describe a simple, economical procedure for rapidly detecting acetaminophen in serum or plasma. The method is based upon the reduction by the drug of ferric 2,4,6-tris(2-pyridyl)-s-triazine, at an acidic pH, to ferrous 2,4,6-tris(2-pyridyl)-S-triazine complex, which absorbs maximally at 593 nm. Absorbance and acetaminophen concentration are linearly related from 25 to 400 mg/L, and so therapeutic and toxic concentrations can be measured. The method is accurate; day-to-day CV's for two pooled control specimens (103 and 227 mg/L) were 4.4 and 6.6%. Correlation studies, with an established nitration method and with the free-radical diphenylpicrylhydrazyl dye method, showed correlation coefficients of 0.985 and 0.915, respectively. Of 25 commonly used drugs tested, only levodopa, oxyphenylbutazone, and phenylephrine interfere significantly. Interference from salicylate, salicylamide, and phenylbutazone was insignificant.