Analytical techniques for the determination of acetaminophen: A review

Acetaminophen is a very widely used pharmaceutical, consequently it has been detected in the water system. Reliable and robust analytical techniques are thus needed for the detection of acetaminophen, not only for quality control (of pharmaceuticals) and medical control (analysis in biological fluids), but also for environmental matrices. This review gives an overview of analytical methods for acetaminophen using chromatography-mass spectrometry for monitoring aquatic environments, and electrochemical methods for analysis of pharmaceuticals and biological fluids, as well as environmental samples. Other lesser utilized techniques, including spectroscopy and capillary zone electrophoresis, are also discussed. High sensitivity, speed, specificity and reproducibility allow for the utilization of conventional methods for the detection of acetaminophen in routine analysis. However, they are time consuming, expensive and labor intensive. It is envisioned that future research efforts will focus on the development of novel methods and sensor materials to address these limitations.