GE Healthcare has launched FTA DMPK cards for the collectionand storage of blood samples for use in pharmacokinetic and toxicokinetic(PK/TK) studies. This methodology stores the samples as dried blood spots (DBS)and has a broad applicability across the entire drug discovery and developmentprocess, from research through to preclinical and clinical trials. The lowerrequired blood volumes of 10 to 20 µl, compared to traditional approachesneeding up to 500 µl, supports serial sampling, leading to enhanced dataconsistency and a reduction in the number of animals required per study. FTADMPK cards deliver both an ethical and economic benefit with workflow timereduced, as the procedure for blood sample processing is greatly simplified.For all card types, the resultant DBS samples can be stored and shipped at roomtemperature, while FTA DMPK-A and FTA DMPK-B cards also inactivate viruses andprevent bacterial contamination, making handling and shipping of samples saferand more straightforward. For analysis, sample discs are taken from the cardsusing a manual or automatic punch, from which the compounds of interest areextracted and analyzed.