Pharmacogenetic Tests
Reviewed
Pharmacogenetic testing looks for gene variants that affect how your body responds to certain medicines. It helps providers determine whether a medicine may be effective, what dose is needed, and whether you are at higher risk for serious side effects. The test is used for conditions such as high cholesterol, depression, blood clot prevention, HIV, multiple sclerosis, and certain cancers. Results describe gene changes but cannot diagnose any condition or predict disease risk.
Preparation and collection
For a saliva test: do not eat, drink, smoke, or chew gum for 30 minutes before the test. For a cheek swab: you may be asked to rinse your mouth first. No special preparation is needed for a blood test.
Understanding this test
Use the reference interval and units printed by the laboratory that performed the test. A result outside that interval is not a diagnosis by itself, and a result inside it does not rule out every condition. Your symptoms, history, medicines, timing, and related tests can change what the result means.
- Results describe gene variants that may affect medicine response but cannot diagnose any health condition or predict disease risk.
- At-home test kits may not be accurate and should not be used for treatment decisions without consulting a healthcare provider.
- Not all medicines or health conditions have pharmacogenetic tests available.
What to do next
Your provider will use the results along with other information about your condition to recommend or adjust treatment. If a medicine is not right for you, your provider will consider other options.