PGx Testing

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Not all people respond to standard medication dosage. Genetic testing helps your doctor select the right drug and the best dose for you.

A simple test can show how our body is likely to process many common medications. Your doctor can act on the results to prescribe medications with less risk of side effects, including bad reactions. Genetic testing also helps your doctor find the most effective medication and dose for you.

Your genetic makeup is different from everyone else’s.  Variations in your genes are responsible for differences in everything from hair and eye color to how your body breaks down medications. Gene variations are normal. Genetic testing is the only way to find your unique gene variations.

CARDIAC, PSYCH, PAIN, and GENERAL gene panels look for gene variations that affect how your body’s enzymes work. Enzymes are substances that cause chemical reactions within the body. Enzymes are involved in all of your body’s functions. Some enzymes break down food inside the body. Others break down medications. The panels look for gene variations that affect one family of enzymes. This family is called the ”P450 enzymes.” These enzymes break down up to 80 percent of all medications

Medicare and Medicaid have covered the cost for people with certain conditions. Private insurance companies may pay if your doctor considers the test medically necessary.  You may ask your insurance company if it covers CYP P450 testing.

Genetic testing helps your doctor find the best medication and dose for you. Different enzymes break

down different medications, knowing which gene variations you have is just as important as knowing

if you have any. Genetic testing gives you and your doctor valuable information about your response to

medications. This information is critical to preventing side effects. It also helps your doctor prescribe the

most effective medication and dose for you.