Therapeutic drug monitoring, which involves measuring the levels of antiepileptic drugs (AED) in patients' blood to optimize pharmacotherapy, is a key tool in modern medicine. This method significantly improves the effectiveness of epilepsy treatment. However, due to the use of advanced equipment, the analytical part of TDM is typically carried out in specialized laboratories at major medical centers, limiting access to this service for many patients.
The solution to this issue is the introduction of self-sample collection (capillary blood from the fingertip) by patients at home, followed by delivery to the laboratory via mail. Remote medical monitoring of patients, combined with this approach, greatly expands access to TDM, introducing a new standard of patient-centered care. This model allows for a more personalized and convenient epilepsy pharmacotherapy approach.
Project Objective
The aim of the project is to develop a novel method for therapeutic drug monitoring of antiepileptic drugs based on a new matrix – capillary blood collected from the fingertip (in contrast to the traditional method of venous blood collection). During the clinical study, the correlation between AED concentrations in venous blood and capillary blood will be established and the method will be validated.
The final outcome of the project will be the creation of a new medical service that:
- Provides convenience for patients by allowing them to collect samples independently.
- Enables easier monitoring of therapy for doctors, thanks to better access to patient data.
Innovative Solutions
For collecting capillary blood samples, we use innovative devices – volumetric absorption probes. These allow for the collection of a fixed volume of blood, which is essential for precise analysis.
The Future of TDM
Once the study is completed and the final report is prepared, the method will be introduced into the medical community and made available for commercialization. This solution will establish a new standard for monitoring epilepsy pharmacotherapy – more accessible, convenient, and patient-focused.