# Precise field-friendly methods for quantification of antimalarial drugs in dried blood spots

> **NIH NIH R21** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO · 2024 · $246,000

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
Quantification of drugs using the dried blood spots (DBS) remains uncommon due to the
challenges of variability of DBS samples and correlation of DBS drug levels with plasma drug
levels and clinical outcomes. In this proposal, we employ the volumetric absorptive
microsampling (VAMS) technique to collect DBS samples and use ultra-performance liquid
chromatography tandem mass spectrometry to build a platform for quantitation of antimalarial
drugs, including lumefantrine, amodiaquine and its metabolite desethylamodiaquine, and
piperaquine, in the DBS samples. Then we will establish the correlation of DBS-plasma drug
concentrations. Considering the unequal distribution of drugs in erythrocytes and plasma, high
protein binding, and variable hematocrit, comprehensive regression models will be tested to
improve the accuracy of DBS-plasma conversion of drug concentrations. VAMS technique
enables precise sampling of micro-volume samples regardless of hematocrit. such as Mitra™
DBS devices collecting 10 µL blood and HemaPEN™ DBS devices collecting 2.74 µL blood
samples with precision and accuracy <5%. DBS microsampling can be carried out easily by
patients, requires less blood volume, and can be stored and transported at room temperature.
The novel VAMS DBS microsampling for sample collection combined with the highly sensitive
ultra-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry for drug quantitation, if
successfully validated, can be used as general methods to support pharmacokinetic/
pharmacodynamic studies in rural area where blood samples processing and cold storage are
impossible. We also expect an increasing application for pediatric patients due to its advantage
over traditional plasma samples. Finally, we will explore association of DBS drug exposure and
risk of malaria in comparison of the established association of plasma drug concentrations and
risk of malaria.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10951322
- **Project number:** 1R21AI185534-01
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO
- **Principal Investigator:** Liusheng Huang
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $246,000
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2024-07-17 → 2026-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10951322

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10951322, Precise field-friendly methods for quantification of antimalarial drugs in dried blood spots (1R21AI185534-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10951322. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*