Open AccessDried blood spot measurement: application in tacrolimus monitoring using limited sampling strategy and abbreviated AUC estimation
Author(s) -
Cheung Chi Yuen,
Van Der Heijden Jaques,
Hoogtanders Karin,
Christiaans Maarten,
Liu Yan Lun,
Chan Yiu Han,
Choi Koon Shing,
Van De Plas Afke,
Shek Chi Chung,
Chau Ka Foon,
Li Chun Sang,
Van Hooff Johannes,
Stolk Leo
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
transplant international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.998
H-Index - 82
eISSN - 1432-2277
pISSN - 0934-0874
DOI - 10.1111/j.1432-2277.2007.00584.x
Subject(s) - medicine , dried blood spot , venous blood , tacrolimus , blood sampling , sampling (signal processing) , area under the curve , therapeutic drug monitoring , pharmacokinetics , chromatography , transplantation , chemistry , filter (signal processing) , computer science , computer vision
Summary Dried blood spot (DBS) sampling and high‐performance liquid chromatography tandem–mass spectrometry have been developed in monitoring tacrolimus levels. Our center favors the use of limited sampling strategy and abbreviated formula to estimate the area under concentration–time curve (AUC 0–12 ). However, it is inconvenient for patients because they have to wait in the center for blood sampling. We investigated the application of DBS method in tacrolimus level monitoring using limited sampling strategy and abbreviated AUC estimation approach. Duplicate venous samples were obtained at each time point (C 0 , C 2 , and C 4 ). To determine the stability of blood samples, one venous sample was sent to our laboratory immediately. The other duplicate venous samples, together with simultaneous fingerprick blood samples, were sent to the University of Maastricht in the Netherlands. Thirty six patients were recruited and 108 sets of blood samples were collected. There was a highly significant relationship between AUC 0–12 , estimated from venous blood samples, and fingerprick blood samples ( r 2 = 0.96, P < 0.0001). Moreover, there was an excellent correlation between whole blood venous tacrolimus levels in the two centers ( r 2 = 0.97; P < 0.0001). The blood samples were stable after long‐distance transport. DBS sampling can be used in centers using limited sampling and abbreviated AUC 0–12 strategy as drug monitoring.