Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) for immunosuppressive drugs (ISPs) is a critical component of post-tissue and organ transplantation therapy. This is because ISP drugs have high intra- and inter-subject variability and a narrow therapeutic window. Initially, quantitative analyses of ISPs such as sirolimus, cyclosporine A, tacrolimus, and everolimus used whole blood specimens.
Topics: Alternative to Dried Blood Spot, Alternative to Venipuncture, Immunosuppressants
When administering immunosuppressants, clinicians need to individualize a patient’s drug therapy. The goal is to attain an optimal balance between therapeutic efficacy and the probability of adverse effects. Patients present varying pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics, so achieving this goal can be challenging.
Topics: Alternative to Dried Blood Spot, Alternative to Venipuncture, Immunosuppressants
Patient-centric healthcare has taken center-stage. With the increasing access to information, patients want to play a role in treatment methods and applications. Patient-centric sampling has an important part to play.
Topics: Clinical Trials, Alternative to Dried Blood Spot, Alternative to Venipuncture, Remote Patient Monitoring
Data collected in vivo is mandatory to make informed decisions about drug development and screening. Researchers previously relied on animal models to obtain experimental measurements. The collection of specimens was invasive, labor-intensive, time-consuming, and costly.
Topics: Alternative to Dried Blood Spot, Animal Testing, Alternative to Venipuncture
New work using microsampling in proteomics has transformative implications for science and research, for patient outcomes, and for the way labs do business.
"Having spent years attempting to discover new protein biomarkers, the most interesting and highly motivating thing about our proteomics work is how we might now be able to bring it to the stage where it has impact by improving patient outcomes," says Dr. Stephen Pennington of University College Dublin, whose work in proteomics using Mitra® microsampling devices has indeed begun to garner wider attention.
Topics: Alternative to Dried Blood Spot, Alternative to Venipuncture, Remote Patient Monitoring
During the development process of a new drug, it is crucial to get accurate results on how the drug reacts on the individuals on which it is being tested. Procedures such as drug metabolism (DM) and pharmacokinetic (PK) studies require blood draws. Before the 1960s, the primary method was drawing large volumes of blood using the traditional method (venipuncture). However, with the emergence of dried blood spot (DBS) technique, only a small amount of blood is required in many cases.
Topics: Alternative to Dried Blood Spot
