Who Offers CYP2D6 Testing for Patients?

Many people in the industry are interested in the extent to which pharmacogenomic testing is actually being used in medical practice. The cytochrome enzyme, CYP2D6, is responsible for the metabolism of approximately 25% of all commonly prescribed drugs. Many of these drugs have a narrow therapeutic index including cardiovascular, central nervous system, and analgesics. Patients who are Poor Metabolizers (approximately 7% of patients) are at significant risk of adverse drug reactions due to drug accumulation induced toxicity.

The question is: Does your laboratory currently offer CYP2D6 testing either as physician-referred or patient self-directed requests?

I think the answer to this question will help us evaluate whether this most obvious and important test is being incorporated into drug treatment in the US and elsewhere.

Thanks in advance for your posting.
MPM

Most Often Asked Questions

The questions most often asked about this emerging field of science, drug development, laboratory medicine and medical practice are:
1) When will pharmacogenomics really be used in the practice of medicine?
2) How will pharmacogenomics make the most significant changes in adverse drug reactions?
3) What drugs being prescribed today should be done only in conjunction with genotyping patients before treatment?
4) How will doctors be educated about this so they can decide if they should be offering this to their patients?
5) Who will pay for these tests? Are they reimbursed by insurers?

Pharmacogenomics can save your life

All:
Adverse drug reactions are the 4th leading cause of death and the 5th leading cause of hospitalization in the United States. Many of these deaths and illness could be prevented if patients were aware that the had a genetic predisposition to an unexpected reaction to commonly prescribed pharmaceutical drugs. Tests are now available to allow patients to understand their inherited genetic makeup so they can be aware of these risk factors. The test is a simple blood test in which we examine your DNA to look for genetic mutations that are known to cause your body to eliminate (metabolize) drugs much slower than most patients. "Poor Metabolizers" end up with a high level of drug in their system and then experience drug toxicity. Please examine my company's website for some basic information and then post questions here and I will answer you in a way that might save your life or that of a loved one.

Additional Information on Pharmacogenomics

For those who are interested in Pharmacogenomics I recommend starting with my company's website at www.gentris.com

Links to pdf's for papers we have published on the subject can be downloaded at:
http://www.gentris.com/news/pub.aspx

Thanks for your interest in my site.
MPM