Now available: Plasma Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor (TKI) Assay Service

Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) are used in the treatment of haematological and other malignancies. TKIs are administered orally and their bioavailability is thus dependent on gastrointestinal absorption and first-pass metabolism. Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM), i.e. the measurement of plasma concentrations of the parent drugs and sometimes of plasma metabolites therefore has a role in assessing adherence and optimising dosage.

We test for the following analytes: Imatinib, Dasatinib, Nilotinib, Gefitinib, Lapatinib, Sunitinib, Sorafenib, Erlotinib.

Full details are available on the dedicated Toxicology test pages.

January 30, 2013, 5:39 pm

Now available: Plasma Triazole Antifungal Assay Service

Development of invasive fungal infections (IFIs) in patients being treated for haematological malignancies is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Due to the difficulty in diagnosing IFIs, targeted prophylactic antifungal therapy is important in high-risk patients. Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) of triazole antifungals, especially itraconazole (and its active metabolite, hydroxyitraconazole), posaconazole, and voriconazole has thus been suggested for assessing adherence and in dose optimization. Analysis of fluconazole may also useful for assessing adherence.

Full details are available on the dedicated Toxicology test pages.

January 30, 2013, 5:36 pm

DX deliveries

For the avoidance of doubt, please use the following address when sending samples to KingsPath via DX:

Kingspath

Peckham 90SE

Details of the DX service can be found at their website: http://www.thedx.co.uk

August 15, 2012, 12:39 pm

COBALT & CHROMIUM TESTING RE. METAL-ON-METAL HIP REPLACEMENTS

Over 50,000 hip replacements are carried out in the UK every year, with the Metal-on-Metal (MoM) type gaining in popularity.

The Medical Devices Alert issued in February 2012 by the MHRA highlighted that MoM prosthesis failure in some patients may arise from localised tissue reactions associated with the release of particulate metal ions during articulation, and has recommended following up patients on an annual basis for at lease 5 years, with the measurement of Cobalt (Co) and Chromium (Cr) carried out in symptomatic/suspected patients.

The Trace Element laboratory at King’s College Hospital, provides a diagnostic service using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS).

For full details, please go to the dedicated Biochemistry test page.

June 11, 2012, 8:47 am