--- title: Getting started with high risk drug monitoring recalls description: A step-by-step guide to setting up a high risk drug monitoring recall, using DMARDs as an example. Learn how to invite patients before they become overdue, set reminder frequency, and use Analytics to follow up on patients whose monitoring is still outstanding.🩺  --- [Skip to content](https://help.abtrace.co/getting-started-with-high-risk-drug-monitoring-recalls#main-content) [![abtrace-logo-colour@2x-3.png\]](https://help.abtrace.co/hs-fs/hubfs/abtrace-logo-colour@2x-3.png?width=124&height=60&name=abtrace-logo-colour@2x-3.png)](https://help.abtrace.co/?hsLang=en) Open main navigation Close main navigation - [Go to abtrace.com](https://www.abtrace.com/) [Go to abtrace.com](https://www.abtrace.com/) Hello. How can we help you? - There are no suggestions because the search field is empty. 1. [Abtrace Support Portal](https://help.abtrace.co/?hsLang=en) 2. [Automated Recalls](https://help.abtrace.co/automated-recalls?hsLang=en) 3. [Recall Guides](https://help.abtrace.co/automated-recalls?hsLang=en#recall-guides) # Getting started with high risk drug monitoring recalls Patients on high risk drugs need regular blood tests to keep them safe. A recall lets you find every patient who is due their bloods, invite them automatically, and keep your list up to date as results come in. Every practice works differently, so your workflows may vary. This recall covers the **blood test component** of high risk drug monitoring and is designed as a starting point to help you structure your high risk drug monitoring recalls, which you can then adapt to suit your practice. This example uses the following **DMARDs**, which all need regular blood tests: - Azathioprine - Ciclosporin - Leflunomide - Mercaptopurine - Methotrexate - Mycophenolate - Penicillamine - Sulfasalazine You can also add other high risk medications to the same recall, such as **DOACs**, **Lithium** or **Amiodarone**. 💡Some of these medications also need other monitoring alongside blood tests, such as blood pressure checks or urinalysis. Make sure your practice has workflows in place to cover these too. 📋 Monitoring timelines for these medications are based on [SPS (Specialist Pharmacy Service)](https://sps.nhs.uk/home/tools/drug-monitoring/) guidance. Please review these in[Rules Management](https://proactive-monitoring.abtrace-cloud.com/) **i**f your local or shared care agreements differ. ### Create the recall: 1. In the **Indications** tab, search for and select **each DMARD individually** (e.g. **Methotrexate**, **Ciclosporin**). The list above is a reference guide, so check your local policies for which medications to include. ![](https://help.abtrace.co/hs-fs/hubfs/image-png-Oct-01-2026-12-05-11-9443-PM.png?width=257&height=202&name=image-png-Oct-01-2026-12-05-11-9443-PM.png) 2. Go to **Task types** and select **Blood tests**. ![](https://help.abtrace.co/hs-fs/hubfs/image-png-Oct-01-2026-12-05-29-5916-PM.png?width=276&height=253&name=image-png-Oct-01-2026-12-05-29-5916-PM.png) 3. Select **Opportunistic** 🟡 and **Overdue** 🔴,  ![](https://help.abtrace.co/hs-fs/hubfs/image-png-Oct-01-2026-12-38-41-2952-PM.png?width=283&height=145&name=image-png-Oct-01-2026-12-38-41-2952-PM.png) 4. Click on the **Groups** tab and add the **Days overdue** filter to choose how early patients receive their first invite. For example, **-14**  allows you to start inviting patients **14 days before they’re due**, giving them time to book.  ![](https://help.abtrace.co/hs-fs/hubfs/image-png-Oct-01-2026-12-23-08-6148-PM.png?width=284&height=161&name=image-png-Oct-01-2026-12-23-08-6148-PM.png) 5. Add any **exclusions** 🚫. If some patients are managed through separate workflows, such as care home or housebound patients, you can exclude them so they aren't invited through this recall. ![](https://help.abtrace.co/hs-fs/hubfs/image-png-Oct-01-2026-12-27-04-2868-PM.png?width=290&height=126&name=image-png-Oct-01-2026-12-27-04-2868-PM.png)   **Before you activate:** We recommend reviewing the set-up with a clinician in your practice, so the medications, timings and patient messages are right for your patients.   💡Patients who haven’t completed their monitoring after the final reminder appear as **unsuccessful** in [**Analytics**](https://help.abtrace.co/recall-analytics?hsLang=en), giving you a ready-made list for prompt follow-up! - [Getting started](https://help.abtrace.co/getting-started?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Account & Installation](https://help.abtrace.co/getting-started?hsLang=en#account-installation) - [EMIS Setup](https://help.abtrace.co/getting-started?hsLang=en#emis-setup) - [SystmOne Setup](https://help.abtrace.co/getting-started?hsLang=en#systmone-setup) - [Compliance](https://help.abtrace.co/getting-started?hsLang=en#compliance) - [User Management Portal](https://help.abtrace.co/user-management-portal?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Users & Practice Configuration](https://help.abtrace.co/user-management-portal?hsLang=en#users-practice-configuration) - [Practice-level emails & reports](https://help.abtrace.co/user-management-portal?hsLang=en#practice-level-emails-reports) - [Rules Management](https://help.abtrace.co/user-management-portal?hsLang=en#rules-management) - [Analytics](https://help.abtrace.co/user-management-portal?hsLang=en#analytics) - [Proactive Monitoring Tool](https://help.abtrace.co/proactive-monitoring-tool?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Patient View](https://help.abtrace.co/proactive-monitoring-tool?hsLang=en#patient-view) - [Population View](https://help.abtrace.co/proactive-monitoring-tool?hsLang=en#population-view) - [Optimisation View](https://help.abtrace.co/proactive-monitoring-tool?hsLang=en#optimisation-view) - [Analytics View](https://help.abtrace.co/proactive-monitoring-tool?hsLang=en#analytics-view) - [FAQs](https://help.abtrace.co/proactive-monitoring-tool?hsLang=en#faqs) - [Automated Recalls](https://help.abtrace.co/automated-recalls?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Recall Guides](https://help.abtrace.co/automated-recalls?hsLang=en#recall-guides) - [Clinical Programmes](https://help.abtrace.co/automated-recalls?hsLang=en#clinical-programmes) - [FAQs](https://help.abtrace.co/automated-recalls?hsLang=en#faqs) - [Patient Engagement](https://help.abtrace.co/patient-engagement?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Patient Portal](https://help.abtrace.co/patient-engagement?hsLang=en#patient-portal) - [Messaging](https://help.abtrace.co/patient-engagement?hsLang=en#messaging) - [Questionnaires](https://help.abtrace.co/patient-engagement?hsLang=en#questionnaires) - [Troubleshooting](https://help.abtrace.co/troubleshooting?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Account & log in](https://help.abtrace.co/troubleshooting?hsLang=en#account-log-in) - [Common Errors](https://help.abtrace.co/troubleshooting?hsLang=en#common-errors) - [SystmOne](https://help.abtrace.co/troubleshooting?hsLang=en#systmone) - [EMIS](https://help.abtrace.co/troubleshooting?hsLang=en#emis) - [Network & connectivity](https://help.abtrace.co/troubleshooting?hsLang=en#network-connectivity) - [Contact us](https://help.abtrace.co/contact-us?hsLang=en) [![abtrace-logo-colour@2x-Sep-24-2025-07-33-42-6579-AM](https://help.abtrace.co/hs-fs/hubfs/abtrace-logo-colour@2x-Sep-24-2025-07-33-42-6579-AM.png?width=130&height=63&name=abtrace-logo-colour@2x-Sep-24-2025-07-33-42-6579-AM.png "abtrace-logo-colour@2x-Sep-24-2025-07-33-42-6579-AM")](http://abtrace.co)