Dried blood spot measurement: application in tacrolimus monitoring using limited sampling strategy and abbreviated AUC estimation.

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.

Dried blood spot measurement of tacrolimus is promising for patient monitoring.

The usefulness of dried blood spot (DBS) sampling for therapeutic drug monitoring of tacrolimus was investigated with renal transplant patients. There was no significant difference between the concentrations (ranging 3.33-53.