TESTING METHOD FOR DETERMINING CONCENTRATION OF IMMUNOPHILIN BINDING MEDICAMENT IN BLOOD, TESTING SET AND THE USE OF IMMUNOPHILIN-BINDING MEDICAMENT FOR SUCH DETERMINATION

摘要

A new method of measuring blood levels of immunophilin-binding pharmaceuticals, e.g., cyclosporins, rapamycins, and FK506 compounds, is provided, comprising the novel step of displacing the pharmaceutical from its immunophilin by using a binding competitor, thereby eliminating the need for an extraction step and enhancing the simplicity and accuracy of the assay. Assay kits comprising a binding competitor and a receptor, e.g., a monoclonal antibody, which binds to the pharmaceutical but not significantly to the binding competitor, are also provided, as are new uses of immunophilin-binding compounds as binding competitors in such assays.