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Quantification of the Immunosuppressant Tacrolimus on Dried Blood Spots Using LC-MS/MS
Published on: November 8, 2015
Should phosphatidylethanol be currently analysed using whole blood, dried blood spots or both?
Van Long Nguyen1,2, Michael Fitzpatrick3
1NSW Health Pathology, Department of Chemical Pathology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Missenden Road, Camperdown, NSW 2050, Australia.
Abstract:
Phosphatidylethanol (PEth) are phospholipids produced through non-oxidative ethanol metabolism. They accumulate in red blood cells and have been traditionally analysed in whole blood as potential biomarkers for moderate to long-term alcohol consumption. More recently, their analysis in dried blood spots has been gaining favour, namely, due to the ease in sampling, transport and storage conditions required. This paper aims at providing a short comparative review between analysing PEth in whole blood and dried blood spots and the potential pitfalls that researchers may face when setting up PEth testing for clinical use.
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