Parameter Set Antidepressants 1/EXTENDED - LC-MS/MS

Clinical relevance

There are many drugs available for the treatment of depression. In addition to classic tricyclic antidepressant drugs, there are newer generation antidepressants: "selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors" (SSRIs) and "selective serotonin and noradrenalin re-uptake inhibitors" (SSNRIs).

SSRIs inhibit the re-uptake of the messenger substance serotonin into the presynaptic neurons. They possess characteristics that reduce anxiety and improve mood. Usually, these positive effects start to set in about two to three weeks after starting therapy. SSNRIs are mood and motivation enhancing and act similarly to the SSRIs, but additionally block the re-uptake of noradrenalin.

Since SSRIs and SSNRIs work selectively, side effects are rare. But still, therapeutic drug monitoring is recommended, because the therapeutic endpoint is difficult to determine, and monitoring patient compliance increases the likelihood of treatment success.

Product advantages

With the Parameter Set Antidepressants 1/EXTENDED in serum/plasma, 13 different analytes can be measured fast and efficiently using LC-MS/MS. Due to the careful optimisation of all kit components as well as the chromatographic separation, matrix effects (“ion suppression”) are minimised and the robustness of the method is enhanced. Sample preparation is based on a protein precipitation step. The use of stable isotopically labelled (deuterated) and co-eluting internal standards as well as 3PLUS1® multilevel calibrators ensures high precision and the reproducible and reliable quantification of the analytes. The method is comprehensively validated.

The Parameter Set is a part of the Series A modular system, which enables the analysis of all parameters without switching column or changing the mobile phases, thereby minimising required workload in the laboratory. The Basic Kit A contains all components required for sample preparation and all necessary mobile phases. The MasterColumn® A is the analytical column used for the determination of all Series A analytes. Our portfolio contains further MassTox® Parameter Sets.

For the analysis you require the MassTox® TDM Basic Kit A, the specific MassTox® TDM Parameter Set and the analytical column MassTox® TDM MasterColumn® A.