Sampling strategies for noncompartmental estimation of mean residence time.

An optimization procedure is presented for selecting sample times for estimating mean residence time using noncompartmental data analysis. Performance of this experimental design strategy is evaluated using Monte Carlo simulations of a model for digoxin kinetics. The contribution of measurement error to the overall expected error in MRT estimates is examined and its importance emphasized. Also, the sensitivity of the proposed experimental design strategy to required assumptions is investigated using the digoxin model, and the importance of accurate estimates of extrapolated areas is noted.