title: Is there a role for microsampling in antibiotic pharmacokinetic studies?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Clinical pharmacokinetic studies of antibiotics can establish evidence-based dosing regimens that improve the likelihood of eradicating the pathogen at the site of infection, reduce the potential for selection of resistant pathogens, and minimize harm to the patient. Innovations in small volume sampling (< 50 μL) or 'microsampling' may result in less-invasive sample collection, self-sampling and dried storage. Microsampling may open up opportunities in patient groups where sampling is challenging.
  
  
  METHODS
  The challenges for implementation of microsampling to assure suitability of the results, include: acceptable study design, regulatory agency acceptance, and meeting bioanalytical validation requirements. This manuscript covers various microsampling methods, including dried blood/plasma spots, volumetric absorptive microsampling, capillary microsampling, plasma preparation technologies and solid-phase microextraction.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The available analytical technology is being underutilized due to a lack of bridging studies and validated bioanalytical methods. These deficiencies represent major impediments to the application of microsampling to antibiotic pharmacokinetic studies. A conceptual framework for the assessment of the suitability of microsampling in clinical pharmacokinetic studies of antibiotics is provided. This model establishes a 'contingency approach' with consideration of the antibiotic and the type and location of the patient, as well as the more prescriptive bioanalytical validation protocols.
authors.affiliation: a Burns, Trauma and Critical Care Research Centre , The University of Queensland , Brisbane , Australia.
authors.forename: Suzanne L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Parker
authors.affiliation: a Burns, Trauma and Critical Care Research Centre , The University of Queensland , Brisbane , Australia.|b Paediatric Intensive Care , Lady Cilento Children's Hospital , Brisbane , Australia.
authors.forename: Tavey
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Dorofaeff
authors.affiliation: a Burns, Trauma and Critical Care Research Centre , The University of Queensland , Brisbane , Australia.|c Department of Intensive Care Medicine , Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital , Brisbane , Australia.|d Faculty of Health , Queensland University of Technology , Brisbane , Australia.
authors.forename: Jeffrey
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lipman
authors.affiliation: e Department of Paediatrics and Child Health , University of the Witwatersrand , Johannesburg , South Africa.|f Wits UQ Critical Care Infection Collaboration , Johannesburg , South Africa.
authors.forename: Daynia E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Ballot
authors.affiliation: g School of Physiology , University of the Witwatersrand , Johannesburg , South Africa.
authors.forename: Rossella M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Bandini
authors.affiliation: a Burns, Trauma and Critical Care Research Centre , The University of Queensland , Brisbane , Australia.
authors.forename: Steven C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Wallis
authors.affiliation: a Burns, Trauma and Critical Care Research Centre , The University of Queensland , Brisbane , Australia.|c Department of Intensive Care Medicine , Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital , Brisbane , Australia.|h Department of Pharmacy , Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital , Brisbane , Australia.|i School of Pharmacy , The University of Queensland , Brisbane , Australia.
authors.forename: Jason A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Roberts
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D001800:Blood Specimen Collection / Q000379:methods*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D059788:Dried Blood Spot Testing; D006801:Humans; D012107:Research Design; D052617:Solid Phase Microextraction / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents
keywords: Microsampling; antibiotic; pharmacokinetic