Genetic Pharmacology
Patient Education

Patient Education for Pharmacogenetic Testing

Scientific evidence indicates that pharmacogenetics, the study of drug interactions with an individual’s genetic makeup, may improve patient safety. Pharmacogenetic testing for some medications adds genetic information to the usual considerations of patient age, weight, disease process, use of other medications, health behaviors and environment. The additional information gained from pharmacogenetics can help prescribers choose and dose medication that best meets the needs of the individual patient.

Patient / Parent Education

Our Genetic Pharmacology Service (GPS) provides education about pharmacogenetics, clinical pharmacology and genetic testing.  Prior to testing, families can download the Gene Test for Medicines: Patient/Parent Information handout to find answers to frequently asked questions about pharmacogenetic testing. This handout can be downloaded in English or Spanish and is designed to help you decide whether to have pharmacogenetics testing. 

Test Result Information

GPS patient handouts (101-210 and 501-503, below) provide an explanation of test results for patients who have recently received pharmacogenetics testing for CYP2C19, CYP2D6, and CYP3A5. The Psychiatry Pharmacogenetics Expanded Panel tests for differences in two genes, CYP2C19 and CYP2D6. Therefore, two GPS patient handouts are associated with each Psychiatry Pharmacogenetics Expanded Panel test result.  

Contact your clinician to identify the GPS patient handouts that correlate to your unique pharmacogenetics test results.  The GPS patient handouts are available for download: 

GPS Patient Handouts: CYP2C19

GPS Patient Handouts: CYP2D6

GPS Patient Handouts: TPMT

GPS Patient Handouts: NUDT15

GPS Patient Handouts: CYP3A5

GPS Patient Handouts: CYP2C9

 

Have Questions?

We know you may have questions. Read answers to frequent questions about pharmacogenetic testing. Get Answers