Pharmacogenomics: Knowing the possibilities for effective treatment

Quest Diagnostics offers one of the most comprehensive pharmacogenomics test panels available to help you gain insight into a patient’s potential response to medications and optimize their treatment considerations and outcomes. This includes information for over 40 genes, but does not provide information about specific drugs or drug classes. This full panel is particularly advantageous for patients on multiple medications who may otherwise require multiple panels—all at a low cost and coming from a company you trust to meet all of your lab needs.

The Pharmacogenomics Panel from Quest provides pharmacogenetic information for more than 40 genes.

Physicians receive test results in a comprehensive and easy to understand report. Results can be utilized as a reference for your patients throughout their lifetime.

Order Pharmacogenomics PGx panel today.

Why Pharmacogenomics?

The Quest Diagnostics Pharmacogenomics Panel is based on pertinent literature sources that may provide clinical insights to help inform treating physicians about a patient’s genetic attributes to help optimize patient treatment considerations and outcomes.**

Pharmacogenetics/pharmacogenomics is the study of how inherited genetic differences impact the way drugs or medications affect a person. These genetic differences can impact the way a drug is absorbed or metabolized and thereby influence drug response. Pharmacogenomic tests may provide information about a person’s genetic makeup to help doctors decide which medications and doses might work best for him or her. Pharmacogenomic testing can also help reduce the time and costs associated with a trial-and-error approach to treatment.1

Avoiding adverse drug reactions can make a difference

The power of Pharmacogenomics

The Pharmacogenomics Panel from Quest provides pharmacogenetic information for more than 40 genes, which can be used by the physician to assess:

  • Risk of adverse drug reaction
  • Efficacy (i.e., will it work?)

Pharmacogenomics may be used by physicians to gain additional insights to:

  • Help to identify patients who may react negatively to certain medications
  • Help to achieve better outcomes on a patient-by-patient basis

**Sources available upon request.

Ordering information

Test Code 36943
Test Name Pharmacogenomics Panel
Sample specifications Optimum: 5.0mL
Minimum: 2.0mL
Turnaround time 7-14 days
Preferred specimen† Whole blood in EDTA lavender-top tube
Saliva #158851 and buccal swabs #200944 are also acceptable.
Specimen stability

Stability requirements:

Whole blood:

Room temperature: 30 days
Refrigerated: 8 days
Frozen: Unacceptable

Saliva:

Room temperature: 30 days
Refrigerated: 30 days
Frozen: 30

Buccal:

Room temperature: 30 days
Refrigerated: 30 days
Frozen: 30 days
CPT codes*** 81225, 81226, 81227, 81230, 81231, 81232, 81247, 81283, 81291, 81328, 81335, 81350, 81355, 81381 x4, 81400, 81479, 81306

† DNA will be extracted from the sample and tested for changes in multiple genes.

***The CPT codes provided are based on AMA guidelines and are for informational purposes only. CPT coding is the sole responsibility of the billing party. Please direct any questions regarding coding to the payer being billed.

Ordering steps

  1. Order the Pharmacogenomics Panel in 1 of 3 ways
    • Paper requisition****
    • Electronic ordering using Quanum™ eLabs
    • An interfaced EMR

    ****Get copies of the paper Pharmacogenomics requisition from your Quest Diagnostics account manager.

  2. Collect the patient specimen in the office and send with the requisition by a Quest Diagnostics courier, or send the patient to one of our more than 2,220 Patient Service Centers with the requisition to have the specimen collected.
    • Acceptable specimen types are blood (preferred), buccal, and saliva
    • Collection devices can be obtained by calling customer service or online with Quanum™ eLabs
    • Patient Service Center will collect blood sample

The information provided herein and in the pharmacogenetics report is for physician consideration and each physician has to determine what is the best treatment for their patient based upon the physician’s education, experience, and clinical assessment of the patient.

References

  1. Elliott LS, Henderson JC, Neradilek MB, Moyer NA, Ashcraft KC, Thirumaran RK. Clinical impact of pharmacogenetic profiling with a clinical decision support tool in polypharmacy home health patients: a prospective pilot randomized controlled trial. PLoS One. 2017;12(2):e0170905. doi: 10.1371/journal. pone.0170905
  2. US Food & Drug Administration (FDA). Preventable adverse drug reactions: a focus on drug interactions. https://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DevelopmentApprovalProcess/DevelopmentResources/DrugInteractionsLabeling/ucm110632.htm. Updated March 6, 2018. Accessed December 4, 2018.
  3. Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. Adverse drug events overview. https://health.gov/hcq/ade.asp. Updated December 7, 2017. Accessed December 4, 2018.
  4. Personalized Medicine Project. Section 1: basics of personalized medicine. http://personalizedmedicineproject.weebly.com/section-1-basics-of-personalized-medicine.html. Accessed December 4, 2018.