Pharmacogenomics

      At the molecular level, certain genes are responsible for how the body processes different medications, and pharmacogenomics combines our understanding of medication metabolism with genetics. Genetic variations may determine the effectiveness or potential side effects to a specific medication.

       Only a percentage of the patient population will respond to particular drug treatment, and adverse drug reactions are the 4th leading cause of death. This leads to wasted therapy efforts due to the lack of patient response or potentially serious adverse effects. By predicting the outcome of a therapy via genetic testing, patients receive a personalized approach that increases effectiveness and reduces risk of the medication(s).

Who should be tested?

• Patients who will receive medications that have pharmacogenomics biomarkers indicated in their labeling
• Patients who will receive multiple medications to evaluate risk of adverse drug reactions