Rapid HPLC analysis of paracetamol (acetaminophen) in blood and postmortem viscera

Procedures for rapid screening and quantitation of paracetamol in biological material, including whole blood and liver tissue have been developed. The protein in the samples was precipitated by dilution with a mixture of ethanol and ethyl acetate. The sample was centrifuged was carried out by HPLC following rapid screening by either HPLC or a colorimetric procedure. The colorimetric procedure may be operated in batches and is recommended for screening large numbers of samples in a forensic laboratory. The HPLC screening procedure is sufficiently quantitative to be recommended for acute emergencies in hospitals.