Quantitative bioanalysis of paracetamol in rats using volumetric absorptive microsampling (VAMS)

•The first use of volumetric absorptive microsampling for an in-life study.•Bioanalytical method for paracetamol in dried blood using VAMS samplers validated.•VAMS used in toxicokinetic study for paracetamol in female Wistar Han rats.•VAMS gives comparable pharmacokinetic parameters to conventional samples.•VAMS simplifies sample collection and bioanalytical procedures.

Volumetric absorptive microsampling (VAMS) is a simple intuitive technique for collecting and quantitative analysis of dried blood samples. It enables the collection of an accurate blood volume (approximately 10 μL) regardless of blood hematocrit. A bioanalytical method for the determination of paracetamol in dried blood supported on VAMS samplers has been validated and used to support a toxicokinetic (TK) study in rat. The calculated TK parameters were comparable to those obtained from blood–water (1:1, v/v) samples. VAMS is demonstrated to be a robust method that simplifies both the blood sample collection and bioanalytical laboratory procedures and generates high quality quantitative data. However, problems were encountered with controlling the bleed rate during sample collection, resulting in the VAMS tips being flooded and highlighting the need for bleeding methods to be compatible with microsampling techniques to avoid wasting blood. Alternative sample collection procedures are discussed that minimize these issues.

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