MassTox® Immunosuppressants in Whole Blood - LC-MS/MS

Clinical relevance

Immunosuppressants suppress the activity of the immune system in order to prevent organ transplant rejection. They are also used as therapeutic drugs for the treatment of autoimmune diseases. Therapeutic drug monitoring of immunosuppressants is indispensable for therapy following after organ transplantation. Besides mycophenolic acid, the immunosuppressants most commonly used following an organ transplantion include cyclosporin A (INN: Ciclosporin), tacrolimus (FK506), sirolimus and everolimus. Cyclosporin A and tacrolimus block the cellular signal transduction, which is required for the immune response, by inhibiting the enzyme calcineurin. For instance, it controls the synthesis of interleukin in the T cells during an immune response. In contrast, sirolimus, and its derivative everolimus, are calcineurin-independent and inhibit mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin), an important enzyme of the intracellular signal transduction during the immune response.

The quantitative determination of these immunosuppressants should be performed only with LC-MS/MS, because the immunological tests vary considerably in terms of selectivity and specificity, and sometimes also detect inactive metabolites. The compensation of matrix effects also plays a key role in the diagnostic analysis of immunosuppressants from a complex matrix such as whole blood. It is therefore essential that interferences are reduced significantly to achieve precise and reliable quantification.

Product advantages

• Reliable elimination of matrix effects
• High selectivity and sensitivity
• 6PLUS1® Multilevel Calibrator Set and MassCheck® Controls available

The sample preparation is reduced to a simple and effective protein precipitation step and ensures a major minimisation of matrix effects. After this, the analytes are concentrated online using a trap column and interfering matrix substances are separated. The trap column is connected by a simple switching system to the HPLC column and the MS/MS system. The isotopically labelled internal standards compensate very effectively for the remaining ion suppression. Therefore, the analysis of the four immunosuppressants using this kit is robust, precise and reproducible. The use of 6PLUS1® multilevel calibrators from human whole blood and our MassCheck® controls ensures highly accurate results.

For accelerated analysis and very high sample throughput, we also offer the ONEMINUTE Method for LC-MS/MS (order no. 93900).

Content for 400 tests (93000)
Mobile Phase A, 1000 ml
Mobile Phase B, 1000 ml
Precipitation Reagent, 100 ml
Internal Standard Set, 1 Set
Extraction Buffer, 40 ml
Rinsing Solution, 1000 ml
Reaction Vials, light protected, 4 x 100 pcs.

Content for 1200 tests (93000/1200)
Mobile Phase A, 3 x 1000 ml
Mobile Phase B, 3 x 1000 ml
Precipitation Reagent, 3 x 100 ml
Internal Standard Set, 3 x 1 Set
Extraction Buffer, 3 x 40 ml
Rinsing Solution, 2 x 1000 ml
Reaction Vials, light protected, 12 x 100 pcs.
6PLUS1® Multilevel Calibrator Set Immunosuppressants, 7 x 2 ml
Analytical Column, 1 pc.
Trap Column, 2 pcs.