DPD

DPD is an acronym used in several different fields, referring to organizations, enzymes, and chemical reagents. One widely recognized use is DPD Group, a multinational parcel delivery company operating in Europe and beyond. The brand historically stood for Dynamic Parcel Distribution and is part of GeoPost, the parcel division of La Poste. DPD Group focuses on reliable, trackable delivery services for individuals and businesses, with networks and subsidiaries across many countries.

In medicine, DPD commonly denotes dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase, an enzyme encoded by the DPYD gene that participates in the breakdown of pyrimidines. DPD activity affects the metabolism of certain chemotherapy drugs, notably 5-fluorouracil and capecitabine. Severe toxicity can occur in patients with DPD deficiency, so testing for DPYD variants or measuring enzyme activity can guide dosing and reduce risk during treatment.

In analytical chemistry and water testing, DPD refers to N,N-diethyl-p-phenylenediamine, a colorimetric reagent used in the DPD chlorine test. This method measures free and total chlorine in water, with the intensity of the resulting color proportional to chlorine concentration. The DPD reagent is widely used in drinking-water quality monitoring and pool maintenance.

DPD thus encompasses a logistics brand, a medical enzyme, and a chemical indicator, illustrating how the same acronym can denote distinct concepts in different domains.