When acetaminophen ingestion is suspected, which sample is not submitted?

When acetaminophen ingestion is suspected, which sample is not submitted?

• A. Plasma preserved
• B. Liver biopsy
• C. Urine
• D. Blood smear

Answer: (B)

In suspected acetaminophen ingestion, the priority is to determine the level of the drug in the blood to assess the risk of liver injury and guide N-acetylcysteine treatment. The samples typically submitted are plasma preserved for accurate acetaminophen concentration measurement and urine for toxicology screening to confirm exposure. A liver biopsy, by contrast, is an invasive procedure that does not provide timely information to manage an acute overdose and its histologic changes do not help guide immediate therapy, so it is not submitted in this scenario.

In suspected acetaminophen ingestion, the priority is to determine the level of the drug in the blood to assess the risk of liver injury and guide N-acetylcysteine treatment. The samples typically submitted are plasma preserved for accurate acetaminophen concentration measurement and urine for toxicology screening to confirm exposure. A liver biopsy, by contrast, is an invasive procedure that does not provide timely information to manage an acute overdose and its histologic changes do not help guide immediate therapy, so it is not submitted in this scenario.