Development of an UPLC–MS/MS method for the determination of antibiotic ertapenem on dried blood spots

► We evaluate ertapenem concentration from DBS for the first time. ► Rapid chromatographic method on DBS in children for multiple analytes saves costs. ► The use of DBS for therapeutic drug monitoring in children is advantageous. Ertapenem (Invanz ®) is a newly developed carbapenem β-lactam antimicrobial agent. The drug usage in pediatric age needs an accurate drug monitoring for effective patient management. The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of dried blood spot (DBS) specimens to measure ertapenem concentration during treatment. The analysis was performed by UPLC–MS/MS operating in multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode. The calibration curve in matrix was linear in the concentration range of 0.5–100 mg/L with correlation coefficient value higher than 0.997. Performance parameters of this method like lower limit of detection (LLOD, 0.2 mg/L), lower limit of quantification (LLOQ, 0.5 mg/L), matrix effect (20%), intra- and inter-day imprecision (CV within than 15%) and accuracy (between 94 and 155%) of drug concentrations have been evaluated. The drug stability at different temperatures was tested for one month, to evaluate the risks of sample delivery at different climatic conditions. The reported method allows now ertapenem analysis and offers many advantages for patients including the possibility of collecting samples at home. This new assay is both precise and accurate and is especially suitable for therapeutic drug monitoring and pharmacokinetic studies in neonates in whom obtaining larger blood samples is not convenient or possible.