1. OBJECTIVE
Paracetamol poisoning is a condition resulting from excessive consumption of this active chemical substance, which can cause various hepatotoxic and nephrotoxic effects, for example. In this sense, in cases of suspected paracetamol poisoning, serum determination in patients is one of the main procedures for confirming the diagnosis of overdose of this active chemical substance, thus allowing the patient's treatment processes to begin.


At the end of this experiment, you should be able to:

Understand the mechanism of paracetamol toxicity;

Understand the different types of toxic effects caused by paracetamol poisoning;

Apply spectroscopy in quantification processes of medicines and their metabolites;

Perform paracetamol dosing methodologies.

2. WHERE TO USE THESE CONCEPTS?
The professional who works in the area of ​​toxicology will carry out quantification of medications and their metabolites. Therefore, knowledge about the toxicity assessment of active chemical substances is essential. It is essential to carry out dosing procedures in biological matrices of patients, in order to confirm the diagnosis of drug poisoning and allow the application of treatment strategies to the patient.


3. THE EXPERIMENT
The experiment you will perform is one of the routine procedures for serum quantification of paracetamol. Thus, you will handle a serum sample collected from a patient and, applying the appropriate reagents, you will carry out the necessary reaction to measure paracetamol.


4. SECURITY
For the experiment to run properly, it is necessary to use personal protective equipment, such as gloves, closed clothing and a lab coat, and keep your hair tied up (if it is long).


5. SCENARIO
The experiment will take place in the laboratory, where you must wear appropriate biosafety clothing. You will have a serum sample for paracetamol quantification and reagents for dosing arranged on a bench. In the laboratory, you will also have a micropipette, vortex, centrifuge, water bath and spectrophotometer at your disposal.