One size does not fit all when it comes to medication. People may respond differently to the same treatment, experience unwanted side effects, or go through multiple rounds of trial and error before finding the right fit. In a healthcare environment where personalized care is increasingly prioritized, pharmacogenomic (PGx) testing is a powerful tool to support more effective, targeted prescribing.
Whether your patients are starting a new medication, managing multiple prescriptions, or experiencing challenging side effects, PGx testing can provide valuable insights that help guide treatment decisions and improve outcomes.
What is Pharmacogenomic Testing?
Pharmacogenomic (PGx) testing analyzes a person’s DNA to identify genetic variations that influence how they process certain medications. Genetic variations can affect drug absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME), ultimately impacting how effective a medication is and whether it will cause adverse effects.
PGx testing focuses on key genes involved in drug response, including CYP2D6, CYP2C19, CYP3A4, SLCO1B1, and more. PGx test results help predict how a patient may respond to over a hundred commonly prescribed medications, including:
- Mental health medications
- Cardiovascular drugs
- Pain management therapies
- Gastrointestinal medications
- And more
These insights allow providers to choose medications that are more likely to be effective, while avoiding those that pose a higher risk of side effects.
Why Should You Use PGx Testing?
Medication-related problems are common and can be costly. Each year, adverse drug events (ADEs) lead to over 1.5 million emergency department visits and 500,000 hospitalizations (1). Additionally, medication non-response or tolerability issues can delay treatment, reduce quality of life, and lead to worsening health conditions.
Pharmacogenomic testing helps patients by:
- Minimizing the need for trial-and-error prescribing
- Improving treatment efficacy and adherence
- Reducing the risk of adverse drug events (ADEs)
- Supporting safer prescribing
- Guiding more confident therapeutic decisions
PGx testing supports better treatment outcomes by using each patient’s unique genetic makeup to personalize therapy.
PGx Testing in Clinical Practice
For healthcare providers across specialties, PGx testing can support more informed prescribing decisions. PGx testing is relevant across every clinical area, including cardiology, behavioral health, pain management, and primary care.
Many of your patients may benefit from PGx testing. Some patients who are most likely to benefit from PGx testing include:
- Patients starting a new medication (especially when treatment success is critical early on, such as with antidepressants or anticoagulants)
- Patients with a history of adverse drug events
- Patients who haven’t responded well to previous therapies
- Patients taking multiple medications
- Patients with chronic conditions, particularly in cardiology, behavioral health, pain management, and internal medicine
- Patients with a family history of medication issues
PGx testing can be used proactively or reactively to help guide care for your patients. PGx testing also plays a vital role in deprescribing initiatives, helping reduce polypharmacy where appropriate, by identifying ineffective or risky medications that may be safely discontinued or substituted for more effective options. medication routine and make sure the medications you take are safe and effective.
Benefits of Pharmacogenomic Testing
Clinical studies and evidence continue to support the benefits of PGx-guided prescribing. Including PGx testing in your clinical practice may help:
- Reduce medication-related hospitalizations and emergency department visits
- Improve patient outcomes
- Increase medication adherence
- Decrease healthcare costs
These findings support PGx testing as a clinically and economically valuable tool in modern healthcare delivery. For more information on the clinical evidence supporting PGx testing, fill out this form.
About Genemarkers
At Genemarkers, we provide comprehensive, clinically validated PGx testing panels to support healthcare teams in delivering evidence-based care. Our CLIA-certified and CAP-accredited laboratory ensures high-quality results, while our personalized approach provides you with fast turnaround times and the clinical support you may need.
Unlike other PGx solutions, our PGx Test Panel options include insight across therapeutic areas, including behavioral health, cardiology, pain management, gastroenterology, and more. Contact us to start offering PGx testing to your patients.
Sources
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024, April 17). FastStats: Medication safety data. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. https://www.cdc.gov/medication-safety/data-research/facts-stats/index.html