Clinical validation of a liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method for the quantification of calcineurin and mTOR inhibitors in dried matrix on paper discs

INTRODUCTION: Advances in liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) have enabled the quantification of immunosuppressants using microsampling techniques. In this context, dried matrix on paper discs (DMPD) could be a useful alternative to conventional venipuncture. Although analytical validation is necessary to establish the suitability of method performance, it is not sufficient to proceed with its implementation into routine clinical practice. Also necessary is that equivalence between sampling methods be demonstrated in a clinical validation study. OBJETIVES: To clinically validate a LC-MS/MS method for the quantification of tacrolimus, sirolimus, everolimus and cyclosporin A using DMPD. METHODS: According to the recommendations of international guidelines, at least 40 whole blood (WB) and DMPD paired samples for each analyte were collected by skilled technicians and analyzed using LC-MS/MS. Results were evaluated in terms of statistical agreement and bias values at medical decision points. RESULTS: For all analytes, Passing-Bablok regression analysis revealed that confidence intervals (CIs) for slopes and intercepts included 1 and 0, respectively. It also showed that biases at medical decision points were not clinically relevant. No statistically significant differences between DMPD and WB were found using difference plots and agreement analysis. In this regard, CIs for bias estimators included 0, and more than 95% of the results fell within the limits of agreement. CONCLUSION: The feasibility of the clinical application of simultaneous quantification of tacrolimus, sirolimus, everolimus and cyclosporin A in DMPD was demonstrated. Results showed that this microsampling technique is interchangeable with conventional WB sampling when specimens are collected by trained personnel.