Volume 3

July-Septembe 2011

Colorimetric detection and measurement of paracetamol exposure in patients prior dispensing at a pharmaceutical care centre

Awofisayo S O, Uwanta E J

Abstract:
The aim of the work was to detect and quantitatively assess the level of paracetamol in plasma samples of resident of the study area. Demographics of users and factors relating to the use are also examined. Plasma and urine samples were collected from 87 volunteers among buyers at a pharmaceutical care unit. The samples were screened for the presence of paracetamol and subsequently analyzed for the amount of paracetamol by colorimetric approach using Glynn and Kendal’s method. Urine screening for paracetamol indicated a positive test for 80.4% of the samples. Prescriptions in the hands of volunteers had 49.3% features of paracetamol. The correlation between respondents screened positive for paracetamol and handling paracetamol containing prescription was 0.72. The range of paracetamol levels observed in plasma was 110-490 µg/ml. Routine screening of patients prior to dispensing of paracetamol in pharmaceutical care centres is imperative for control of possible liver damage due to continuous use and resulting accumulation of paracetamol and its metabolite in blood.

Keywords: Colorimetric Approach, Paracetamol, Detection, Plasma Levels, Pharmaceutical Care.