Adverse drug reactions are a common occurrence in hospitals, and they can often be life-threatening. In some cases, these reactions can be avoided by using pharmacogenomics testing to determine a patient’s risk for an undesirable response or dangerous effect to medications. PGX testing is a type of pharmacogenomics testing that can help identify patients who are at higher risk for adverse reactions due to their genes. By using PGX tests healthcare providers can make better judgment calls about which medications to prescribe and the best dosage for their patients to obtain better health outcomes.

What is PGX Testing?

PGX stands for pharmacogenomics testing. This type of test analyzes a patient’s DNA to better understand an individual’s response to certain medications. Pharmacogenomics testing can determine whether a patient may be at risk for a mild to potentially life-threatening drug-induced medical reaction. Adverse drug reactions occur when medications cause any type of harmful side effects that make a certain drug less effective or create other problems in the body. In some cases, these adverse events happen as a result of family hereditary factors that can be detected through PGX testing.

PGX testing uses next-generation sequencing to speed up and enhance accurate results and provide detailed information that is specialized for the individual patient. This process uses a simple cheek swab sample from a patient and extracts the DNA using advanced technology that can locate specific mutations in the DNA. This information is then combined with the patient’s clinical history to give healthcare providers valuable insight into the likelihood, that they will respond adversely to certain medication or be unable to attain the right therapeutic dosage for treatment.

Who Should Have PGX Testing Done?

Any patient taking medicines needs insight for developing a better treatment plan. Although PGX testing cannot determine an exact diagnosis for a specific condition, it allows healthcare providers to better predict how a patient will react to certain medications.

PGX testing is a good option for those who believe they may be at risk for an adverse drug reaction due to their genes and family history or want to limit the amount of trial and error with their medications.

People who may also be at risk include those on long-term anticoagulant therapy and those on corticosteroids, as well as those with a family history of specific medical conditions that can affect the way drugs are metabolized by the body.

In addition, PGX testing can help identify specific mutations in Exons and Introns so that doctors know if certain medications they prescribe will interact with other medications their patients are already taking.

Why Use PGX Testing Instead of Traditional Screening Tests?

PGX testing provides a detailed analysis of a patient’s genes and any changes to the DNA. These changes include specific mutations that could influence a pharmacokinetic biomarker that interferes with the metabolization of certain medications. Pharmacogenetics provides healthcare providers with a guideline towards the best medicines options and increases accuracy for dosing based on the patient.

Traditional screenings rely on the premise of trial and error. Not only is this a timely process, but it is also costly for the patient, and potentially harmful every time they change medications and dosage.

In other words, PGX testing helps avoid potential problems resulting from traditional screening tests for adverse drug effects, such as unnecessary prescribing of certain medications and overmedication.

The Future of Pharmacogenomics in Healthcare

In addition to reducing adverse drug reactions, PGX testing can help reduce long-term healthcare costs and improve patient care throughout the world. It is Tesis Biosciences’ mission to provide healthcare providers with access to PGX testing to enable them to make informed decisions about their patients’ care. In general, testing will also lead to fewer harmful reactions, better treatments for patients, and less patient anxiety due to the uncertainty of medical treatment.

For more information on PGX testing and how it can help to reduce patient adverse drug reactions, please contact us today.

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