What type of sample is collected for therapeutic drug monitoring?

Therapeutic drug monitoring primarily involves analyzing blood samples to ensure that drug levels are maintained within a specific therapeutic range. This process is crucial for medications that have narrow therapeutic windows, where the difference between an effective dose and a toxic dose can be minimal. By collecting blood samples at predetermined intervals, healthcare providers can assess how a patient is metabolizing and responding to the medication, thereby adjusting dosages as needed to optimize treatment outcomes.

Blood samples offer precise quantitative data on drug concentration in the patient's bloodstream, facilitating timely interventions based on real-time levels. This approach allows for individualized patient care, improving safety and efficacy in drug therapies.

Collecting a urine sample does not provide direct information about the current levels of medication affecting the body's systems in real time, while a tissue sample is typically more invasive and not routinely used for drug monitoring. An oral swab primarily detects substances like drugs in saliva but does not provide a comprehensive view of the pharmacokinetics of medications in circulation. Thus, the collection of a blood sample at specific intervals is essential for effective therapeutic drug monitoring.