Description:
Therapeutic drug monitoring for patients on immunosuppressant drugs. Analysis is by liquid chromatography - tandem mass spectrometry. Assay run every day including weekends and bank holidays. For same-day analysis, samples must be received by the laboratory by 14:00 on weekdays, and 10:30 at weekends/bank holidays. If the sample is not received before 10.30, it will be analysed and the result reported the following day. Please give the laboratory prior notice by calling on 020 3299 3147 if you are sending urgent samples at the weekend/bank holiday. Normal weekday hours are Mon-Fri 09:00 – 17:00. Weekend and bank holiday working hours are 09:30-14:00 (except bank holiday Mondays which remain 09:00-17:30). Please send a request form with adequate patient information and clear contact details to enable efficient communication of results out of hours.
This test is not currently included in the laboratory's UKAS scope of accreditation to ISO15189:2012
Clinical details:
Ciclosporin A (Cyclosporin A) is an immunosuppressive agent which exerts its effect as a calcineurin inhibitor by interfering with T cell activity and growth. It is essential to monitor the blood concentration of patients receiving ciclosporin due to its unpredictable pharmacokinetics, and relatively narrow therapeutic range. At high concentrations patients are susceptible to a number of side effects including nephrotoxicity, whilst at sub-therapeutic dosages patients may experience transplant rejection.
Synonyms or keywords:
Immunosuppressant, CyA, CsA, ciclosporin