Tacrolimus
- 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.
- Clinical details
- Tacrolimus is a potent immunosuppressive agent which exerts its effect as a calcineurin inhibitor by inhibiting T cell activation. It is important to monitor the blood concentration of patients receiving tacrolimus due to its unpredictable pharmacokinetics and narrow therapeutic range. At toxic concentrations patients are susceptible, for example to nephrotoxicity and neurological problems. At sub-therapeutic dosage patients may experience transplant rejection.
- Related condition
- Reference range
Contact the laboratory. For clinical advice or interpretation of results please contact the laboratory in the first instance.
- Units
- μg/L
- Synonyms
- Immunosuppressant, FK, FK506, Tacrolimus
- Testing site
- Synnovis : Reference Services : King's College Hospital
- Sample type and volume required
- EDTA blood
- Special sample instructions
Trough sample (taken just prior to next dose) is recommended, or at least 10 hours post dose for twice daily dosing. For once-daily dosage, samples should be taken at least 20 hours after the last dose.
- Storage and transport
- First class post. Samples should be received in the laboratory by 14:00 on weekdays and 10:30 on weekends and bank holidays for same-day results.
- Turnaround time
- 1 day
- Contacts
Immunosuppressive Drug Monitoring (IDM) Service at King’s
Phone: 020 3299 3147
Email: IDM@synnovis.co.uk
Institute of Liver Studies
Cheyne Wing – 3rd Floor
King’s College Hospital
Denmark Hill
London
SE5 9RSImmunosuppressant Monitoring Service at Harefield Hospital
Phone: 01895 828570
Email: ims-lab.harefield@nhs.net
Harefield Hospital
Pathology block
Hill End Road
Harefield
UB9 6JH