Microsampling techniques and patient-centric therapeutic drug monitoring of immunosuppressants

Immunosuppressive pharmacotherapy after solid organ transplantation (SOT) requires therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) for therapy individualization. The venous whole blood is still considered as routine matrix for monitoring immunosuppressive drug concentration. On the other hand, as an alternative, capillary blood collected using noninvasive sampling is convergent with a patient-centric approach. Despite their disadvantages regarding sample homogeneity and the hematocrit effect, well-known dried blood spot techniques have shown promising results. Volumetric absorptive microsampling (VAMS) and quantitative dried blood spot (qDBS) have successfully eliminated these unfavorable biased elements. Microsampling can be used in transplant recipients’ care, mainly due to long-term therapy under control drug concentrations and the long distance between the place of the patient’s residence and the diagnostic laboratory in the transplant center. The study aimed to discuss the clinical consequences of implementing microsampling techniques for TDM of immunosuppressants. Additionally, we have discussed the ‘hot topics’ in microsampling: home-based self-sampling, adherence to therapy monitoring, and drug concentration conversion to estimated traditional matrices. Finally, based on our experience and current practice, we propose best practices for microsampling implementation from bench to bedside. Microsampling techniques can potentially revolutionise immunosuppressive pharmacotherapy by enabling patient-centric individualisation in various subpopulations, significantly improving post-transplant care. This review demonstrates that microsampling as the patient-centric approach benefits patients, clinicians, the healthcare system and other people i.a. caregivers involved in the therapeutic process.