Noncompartmental Analysis: Mean Residence Time

According to statistical moment theory, mean residence time is the expected mean of a probability density function distribution. It can also be viewed from the perspective of drug disposition in the body.

After an intravenous bolus administration, drug molecules are distributed and reside in the body for different periods.

Mean residence time describes the average time the drug molecules stay in the body.

It can be calculated from the area under the moment-versus-time curve, AUMC, and the area under the concentration-versus-time curve, AUC, from zero to infinity.

AUMC can be extrapolated to infinity from a given point, assuming a log-linear terminal phase.

However, AUMC can only be calculated after a single-dose administration and not at steady-state conditions.

As a result, mean residence time can be readily computed after a single drug dose using the noncompartmental approach