RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Weight-based N-acetylcysteine dosing chart to minimise the risk of calculation errors in prescribing and preparing N-acetylcysteine infusions for adults presenting with paracetamol overdose in the emergency department JF Emergency Medicine Journal JO Emerg Med J FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and the British Association for Accident & Emergency Medicine SP 482 OP 484 DO 10.1136/emj.2006.043141 VO 24 IS 7 A1 V A Selvan A1 S H S Calvert A1 G Cavell A1 E Glucksman A1 M Kerins A1 J Gonzalez YR 2007 UL http://emj.bmj.com/content/24/7/482.abstract AB Management of paracetamol overdose (POD) is common in the emergency department (ED) and forms part of the clinical effectiveness audit programme of the British Association for Emergency Medicine. N-acetylcysteine (NAC) infusion regimens for the treatment of POD are complicated and prescribing and administration errors have been well documented. This study assessed the ability of doctors and nurses to calculate correct doses using manual calculation skills and a weight-based NAC dosing chart when prescribing and preparing NAC infusions. With manual calculations, errors were made by doctors and nurses in 26% of cases collectively. No errors were made using the dosing chart. The dosing chart ensured 100% accuracy in dose calculations, which may translate into improved patient safety.