Drug-gene testing is also known as pharmacogenetics and pharmacogenomics, meaning \u201cthe study of the uses and effects of medications\u201d from the word \u201cpharmacology\u201d and \u201cthe study of genes and their functions\u201d from the word \u201cgenomics.\u201d At their core, all of these terms characterize the study of how your genes affect the way your body responds to medications. The body has thousands of genes that it inherits from its parents, and these genes are responsible for determining an individual\u2019s characteristics such as blood type and eye color. In addition, some genes are responsible for how the body processes drugs and medications. To determine whether there are any changes in these genes that could affect a patient\u2019s chance for success or cause more health complications, a patient may choose to undergo pharmacogenomic tests.<\/p>\n
The purpose of undergoing pharmacogenomic testing is to find out if a specific medication is right for someone. With a small saliva or blood sample, pharmacogenomic testing can help determine what the best dose of medication is as well as whether a medication could be beneficial or detrimental to the patient\u2019s health. The specific test would only need to be conducted once as the body\u2019s genetic makeup does not change. However, a patient may need additional pharmacogenomic tests if they take another drug. In other words, every medication has its own specific pharmacogenomics test<\/a>. For this reason, it is important for patients to keep documentation of all test results and share them with their physicians.<\/p>\n The need for pharmacogenomic testing is determined on a case-by-case basis. If someone undergoes a pharmacogenomic test and the test results reveal that that individual might have a bad reaction the medication, there is a high chance that his or her family members would also have a negative experience. Therefore, patients are advised to also share their results with family members, and their healthcare provider may make recommendations for family members who should consider testing as well.<\/p>\n There are several limitations to pharmacogenomic tests, including the lack of tests for aspirin and other over-the-counter pain relievers. By the same token, pharmacogenomic tests are not available for all medications. Since tests are available only for certain drugs, a patient\u2019s healthcare provider can determine whether he or she needs to undergo pharmacogenomic testing prior to starting treatment for a specific health condition. Finally, one single pharmacogenomic test cannot predict how a patient will react to every medication. In other words, patients who are taking multiple medications will be required to take multiple pharmacogenomic tests.<\/p>\n The cost of pharmacogenomic tests will vary depending on which test a patient\u2019s provider orders as well as the patient\u2019s health insurance coverage. Patients should keep in mind that some insurance companies will cover the full cost of testing, depending on the reasons for testing and the health insurance policy. Patients who are unsure or who have concerns regarding payment should contact their insurance providers prior to testing.<\/p>\n Combining the science of pharmacology, or drugs, with the study of genes, or genomics, in order to establish effective ways to use medications depending on each individual\u2019s genetic makeup, pharmacogenomics is the field of study about the effect of genes on a patient\u2019s response to medications.<\/p>\nLimitations of Pharmacogenomic Tests<\/h3>\n
Testing Costs and Services<\/h3>\n