Pharmacokinetic concepts and applications affecting the clinical laboratory: I. General concepts and applications.

This article (the first in a series of two papers on pharmacokinetic concepts and applications for the clinical laboratory) presents a general review of pharmacokinetic principles used in conjunction with assays of drug plasma concentrations to assist in developing safer and more efficacious drug dosage regimens for patients. The pharmacokinetic factors influencing drug therapy are discussed, followed by a consideration of the indications for, and limitations of, using drug plasma concentrations as a guide to treatment. Drugs commonly assayed by the clinical laboratory are noted and applications are presented.