Preferred Sample Type
Suitable Specimen Types
- EDTA Whole Blood
Sample Processing in Laboratory
Usual. Samples for cyclosporin taken out of normal hours should be transported to the lab following the usual out of hours protocolSample Preparation
No need to centrifugePlease ensure cyclosporin requests are dealt with promptly.
Do not use samples which have clotted – these must be reported as ‘unsuitable for analysis’ and a repeat requested
Turnaround Time
3 daysSample Stability
Samples can be stored at room temperature if to be assayed within eight hours, or up to one week at 4 ºC.Cyclosporin
General Information
Cyclosporin is a potent immunosuppressive drug effective in combating tissue rejection following organ transplantation. However, therapeutic doses in humans can cause a number of adverse side effects including renal and hepatic dysfunction, hypertension, neurotoxicity, lymphoma, abnormal glucose homeostasis, hypertrichosis and gingival hypertrophy.
The efficacy and degree of toxicity of cyclosporin is highly variable between individuals. However, intra- and inter- individual variablility in cyclosporin absorption, distribution and clearance is so great that standard dosing protocols based on median population values are considered inappropriate and monitoring of cyclosporin levels is required.
NOTE From Monday 16th January 2017 all cyclosporin samples will be processed by tandem mass spectrometry
Patient Preparation
Blood should be taken at the trough level (prior to dose)
Notes
No significant interference from icterus or lipaemia.
Specimens will be processed on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
Specimens arriving prior to 10am will have results reported on days of analysis.
Reference Range
Bone Marrow Transplant 90 – 200 μg/L
Kidney Transplant 85 – 175 μg/L
Specifications
- EQA Scheme?: Yes
- EQA Status: LGC