Mitra v Fingerprick Tacrolimus Creatinine

Comparison of Standard Venous Sampling for Measurement of Tacrolimus and Creatinine Versus Fingerprick Mitra® Volumetric Absorptive Microsampling in Adult Renal Transplant Recipients

Patients with kidney transplant have blood tests very often. This is normally done in hospital and using a needle inserted into the vein. Two tests are important for kidney transplant patients - creatinine to monitor the health of the kidney; and tacrolimus to measure the level of the medicine which prevents rejection. The investigators would like to compare a fingerprick microsampling method to the standard venous blood. The fingerprick test is the same done by patients with diabetes and we use a microsampling tip which looks like a cotton bud to draw up a small amount of blood. Each tip draws up exactly 10 microlitres which is two drops. The investigators want to compare the results of creatinine and tacrolimus done through the two methods. In the future, this would allow patients to do their creatinine and tacrolimus test at home. The tips dry completely and can be posted to a laboratory. We hope this will make life easier for transplant patients and also help them engage more with the care of their condition.

When the patients have their bloods done through venepuncture, an additional 5-10mls will be taken (one EDTA bottle for tacrolimus and one serum bottle for creatinine; and two Mitra VAMs). Patients will also have a fingerprick test and 20 microlitres of blood taken using Mitra volumetric absorptive microsampling (VAMs)

Comparison of creatinine and tacrolimus values for Mitra VAM (test) versus venous sampling (standard).

Compare blood results for creatinine and tacrolimus using two different methods - Mitra volumetric absorptive microsamplers (VAM) versus venous blood (standard).

Inclusion Criteria: Kidney transplant recipients. Taking tacrolimus Exclusion Criteria: Unable to consent