PGx Comprehensive

The genetic variation in response to drugs is referred to as pharmacogenomics (also known as pharmacogenetics). Pharmacogenetics looks at how individuals’ DNA affects the way they respond to drugs. Knowing the patient’s pharmacogenetics in advance can help mitigate adverse drug reactions among genetically-vulnerable individuals and provide information for improved dosage recommendations for therapeutic effect. Empire City Laboratories offers pharmacogenetics testing to providers helping them minimize trial and error approach in prescribing medications to treat pain, depression, anxiety and other mental health issues. Although drug metabolism rates are influenced by various factors, it is well known that an individual’s genetic makeup may predispose them to adverse effects and reduced efficacy of medications.

Sample type:

Buccal swab (3) - cheek swabs

Preparation:

You do not need to do anything special to prepare for the sample collection. Fasting is not required for this test.

Test type:

At home and in person or via trained mobile phlebotomist

Biomarkers

Symptoms or conditions analyzed by this test

Drug metabolism rates vary among patients. Some patients metabolize a drug so rapidly that therapeutically effective blood and tissue concentrations are not reached; in others, metabolism may be so slow that usual doses have toxic effects.

Drug response differences are associated with differences present in individuals’ genetic makeup. Typically, people have two copies of each gene. Those with extra gene copies produce too much of the CYP2D6 enzyme and process the drug very fast. As a result, their bodies convert the painkiller drugs like codeine to its active form morphine so quickly that a standard dose codeine leads to morphine toxicity. In contrast, some variants of CYP2D6 that vary by a single difference in their DNA sequence create an enzyme that doesn’t work. People with these variants process codeine slowly, if at all, leading to little, if any, pain relief.

Question 1