Acetaminophen

Tube type = red top

No Gel in Red Top Bullet

Tube Type

Test ID LAB43
EPIC Order ACETAMINOPHEN LEVEL
CPT Code(s) 82003
Group/Individual Test Individual
Laboratory Core Laboratory
Tube Station 30 Routine; 888 STAT
Specimen Routine: 2 mL blood/navy blue plain or red plain tube
Micro: 300 µL blood/red top pediatric bullet
Stability
Unspun: <4 hours recommended
Spun/Separated:
Room Temperature: 8 hours
Refrigerated: ≤ 3 days
Frozen: ≤45 days.
Availability Routine: 24 hrs/day
STAT: Yes
Turnaround Time STAT 1hr; Routine 2hrs
Reference Range Therapeutic: ≤ 20.0 µg/mL
Critical:
>30 µg/mL
Comments
--Red top tubes must NOT contain Serum Separator Gel

--Must be correlated with time since ingestion
Toxic: Adults, 4 hrs post ingestion >150 µg/mL
           Adults, 12 hrs post ingestion >40 µg/mL
--If time of ingestion is unknown, toxicity can be assessed by using 2 serial levels to calculate elimination T1/2 .

--T1/2 >4h is associated with overdose.

--When extended-release tablets have been used, two levels should be drawn: the first at 4 hrs or more post ingestion, and the second 4-6 hrs after the first.
 
 

Reviewed by J. Carr on January 05, 2026

UNC Hospitals
McLendon Clinical Laboratories
101 Manning Drive
Chapel Hill, NC 27514