General PGx Questions

Pharmacogenomic (PGx) testing looks at how your genes affect your response to certain medications. Genes are pieces of DNA that provide instructions to make our bodies look and work as they do. We all have different genes. Some genes affect the way medications are processed by the body. These differences can affect how people respond to medications.

Pharmacogenetic testing can assist your healthcare provider to select and dose medications that are the best match for you, while estimating your risk for serious side effects.

We test 16 genes related to medication response and side effects. They include: CYP2B6, CYP2C, CYP2C19, CYP2C9, CYP2D6, CYP3A4, CYP3A5, CYP4F2, DYPD, HLA-A, HLA-B, NUDT15, TPMT, UGT1A1, VKORC1.

There are a few limitations to pharmacogenetic testing. These include:

·       Testing only looks at common gene differences. Rare gene differences that may account for the way you react to medications are not tested.

·       Several factors may influence the way you react to medications. Things like your age, weight, other medications and other medical conditions. Your healthcare provider will need to consider these factors along with your test results to advise on the best course of action.

·       It can take several weeks to get testing results, which could delay the initiation of treatment if your doctor is waiting for the results.

All our medication dosing recommendations come from (1) The Clinical Pharmacogenetic Implementation Consortium (CPIC), (2) The Dutch Pharmacogenetics Working Group (DPWG) and (3) The Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Most of our studies have a turnaround time to receive pharmacogenetic results within 10-14 business days, except for the PGx-STaR study. Since PGx does not currently support recommendations for stimulant based medications, the pharmacogenetic report will be delivered along with the gift card at the end of the study (i.e., week 4).

Due to funding agreements and our ethics protocols, only youth and emerging adults between the ages of 6-24 are eligible to participate.

Your pharmacogenetic test results are based on your unique genetic code. Thus, each member of your family would require individual testing to determine their unique genetic code. Your results cannot be used to guide medication selection or dosing of your family members.