Specialty Laboratories now offers therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) for 15 antiretroviral drugs. The lab’s HIV MonitR™s use liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS-MS) to measure peak and/or trough concentrations with high accuracy, specificity, and reproducibility. LC/MS-MS is the method used by pharmaceutical companies to establish therapeutic range and to confirm drug presence. It is more sensitive and specific than HPLC.

Therapeutic drug monitoring of anti-HIV drugs is becoming increasingly popular as a means to help ensure patients have adequate drug concentrations to inhibit viral replication. TDM for anti-HIV drugs can be used at the beginning of new therapy, as well as to monitor possible drug interaction. TDMs can also be used when administering nonrecommended doses, or when using pharmaco-enhancement. Additionally, TDM’s can be used for pediatric patients, monitoring adherence, and also for use in suspected treatment failure, suspected toxicity, or when changing therapy.

Specialty Laboratories