Clinical Pharmacology Laboratory

The Clinical Pharmacology Lab (CPL) in the Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine Anatomy, Physiology and Pharmacology Department offers drug analysis services and therapeutic drug monitoring for veterinary practitioners and commercial veterinary diagnostic laboratories in the U.S. and abroad, as well as analytical chemistry support for research projects needing drug quantification.

Studying the detection, quantification, use and effects of drugs in animals, the CPL leverages the team’s combined expertise for performance of assay validation tests and quality assurance determinations. The CPL is equipped with instrumentation including: 

• FDA human-approved automated clinical chemistry and immunoassay analyzer (Siemens Dimension Xpand Plus) 
• High-Performance Liquid Chromatography with UV or fluorescence detection (HPLC-UV/FL) 
• Ultra-Performance Liquid Chromatography with mass spectrometry detection (UPLC-MS/MS)

Services

Online Payment Portal

Our Team

Hours of Operation

Monday through Thursday
8:00am to 5:00pm CST

Friday
8:00am to 3:00pm CST

The CPL will be closed on all official Auburn University holidays as listed here. Do not ship samples the day before a holiday.

Contact

Phone: (334) 844-7187
Fax: (334) 844-7188
Email: clinpharm@vetmed.auburn.edu

Sample and supply shipping address:

Clinical Pharmacology Laboratory
1500 Wire Rd.
Auburn, AL 36849

Mailing address (for invoice and accounting only):

Clinical Pharmacology Laboratory
Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Pharmacology
College of Veterinary Medicine
Auburn University
212 Greene Hall
Auburn, AL 36849-5518

Therapeutic Drug Monitoring (TDM)

TDM is a clinical application for individualizing drug dosage by maintaining plasma or blood drug concentration within a target therapeutic range. To submit samples for TDM, complete and submit the online submission form. Available TDM test assays are summarized in the TDM Test and Pricing Chart. 

Sample Shipping

Using the online submission form, you are eligible for a FedEx discount to save up to 50% on standard overnight shipping. As soon as your sample information has been submitted, you will see an option to print a FedEx label, as well as an estimated shipping cost if you choose to print and use the provided label. While FedEx is our preferred shipping method, UPS Next Day Air Saver can also be used if more convenient. 

STAT Service

Tests can be run on a STAT basis, meaning they will be run on the day of receipt if received early enough in the day or not in the normal CPL schedule for that test. Call ahead to facilitate a more rapid turnaround time if necessary. Be sure to mark the appropriate box on the submission form if requesting STAT service. The fee for most STAT testing is $60 for the first test (or peak and trough) on that patient and $30 for subsequent tests on that same sample submission for that patient. The HPLC assay test fee is $200 per assay. STAT fee is added to the cost of monitoring.

Non-Human Primate (NHP) Samples

For non-human primate sample submission, we are required to follow established protocols in our Biological Use Authorization (BUA) as approved by Auburn University’s Office of Risk Management and Safety. Please review and follow instructions for submitting non-human primate sample(s) before submission of the PRIMATE ONLY TDM submission form (PDF) and corresponding samples.

Due to the cost of required PPE to ensure safe handling of primate samples and the time required to follow the safety protocols outlined in our BUA, a $50 per test (or peak and trough) sample handling fee will be added. If you need assistance with the submission process, please contact the CPL via email or phone as listed in the contact section of this page.

Mycophenolate Mofetil /Mycophenolic Acid (MMF/MPA)

We offer a drug monitoring service for mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) or mycophenolic acid (MPA) in canines and felines. Pricing is $75 for single samples and $120 for both peak and trough samples. 

MMF/MPA monitoring is both complicated and limited by the lack of studies correlating concentration and immune suppression in animals. Thus, avoiding toxicity and determining concentrations should be the primary goal. Without consensus regarding MMF therapeutic ranges in animals, establishing the individual patient’s therapeutic range is critical. For more information and sample requirements, click here.

Research & Analytical Chemistry Services

Analytical Chemistry Services consisting of analysis of multiple samples and data (e.g., pharmacokinetic studies, statistical analyses) are offered through the CPL for research projects, which vary from TDM services on clinical patients. We offer development and validation of analytical methods tailored to a particular research project. If you have a project in need of analytical support, contact the pharmacologist and lab manager for more details.

Analytical fees for a new analytical method which include development, validation and data analyses are determined based on a case-by-case basis, based on the complexity of the analysis/project. Pricing varies based on the assay (sample preparation, reagent costs, compound of interest [e.g., parent compound, metabolites, enantiomers], sensitivity) and the number of samples to be analyzed. 

Submission Process

• Request quote by completing the Analytical Service Request form (PDF) and emailing it to the pharmacologist and lab manager who will respond with a price estimate and timeline.
• Download and complete the Research Sample Submission Spreadsheet (Excel) and ship with project samples.
• Remit fee payment through our Online Payment Portal or by sending a check to the billing address above.