How can Pharmacogenomics help me?

Your genetic make-up determines how you respond to a number of common drugs. Traditional approaches use “trial and error” to determine the optimum drug dose, however, this approach contributes to adverse drug reactions (side effects) and treatment failure and may take some time before an optimal dose is determined. So how will your body respond to certain drugs? We test your body’ response to several drug classes including antidepressants, anticoagulant drugs, drugs used to treat diabetes, anti-psychotic drugs, muscle relaxants, opioids and many, many more.

More info about Pharmacogenomics

It is still very much widespread practice amongst doctors, specialists and health practitioners to give their all patients prescriptions for a medicine with the same exact dose. This is based on a notion which has lingered since the earliest days of drug prescriptions and dosage which is being quickly disproved: that the same illness requires the same dosage of the medication in everyone. Genomic research has however, proven that we do not all require the same doses and that some of us require higher doses and some of us lower doses.

The way a drug interacts and how it is metabolized once inside your body depends very much on your genetic makeup. Some people might be slow metabolizers of a drug whilst others might be high metabolizers. This means that the dosage prescribed should be changed accordingly as the way we metabolize the active ingredient in the medicines we take will affect how effective the medicine is and our recovery time. The dosage taken also impacts the intensity of side effects and number of side effects a person might suffer from. Pharmacogenomic testing has found its application in adults as well as in children helping doctors and psychiatrists to administer ideal drug dosage.Besides augmenting the efficacy of drugs, pharmacogenomics can also save money (lower dosages are cheaper) and time (treatment may last less). Ultimately, a pharmacogenomic test will help tailor the best fit drug and do away with the one size fits all approach.

Available PGx Test Panels

We offer 12 specialized PGx Panels as listed below:

Pain Management
This panel evaluates your personal ability to metabolize the following type of drugs:
Anti-inflammatory, Analgesic, Antipyretic, Opioids, Anti-rheumatic and Drugs prescribed for the treatment of Gout. It will also assess a range of additional SNP’s of Importance for Pain management.

Modulation of Cardiovascular Function
This panel evaluates your personal ability to metabolize the following type of drugs:
Antiarrhythmic, Antihypertensive I, Antihypertensive II, Cardiac Stimulants, Vasodilators, Angina medications, Drugs prescribed for the treatment of Dyslipidemia, Anticoagulants, Anti-platelet Drugs. In addition, this panel also assesses SNP’s of importance for treatment using statins, as well as SNP’s for importance of Venous Thromboembolism risk.

Internal Medicine
This panel evaluates your personal ability to metabolize the following type of drugs:
Drugs prescribed for modulation of Respiratory Function, Antiemetic, drugs prescribed for treatment of Peptic Ulcer and/or Gastro-oesophageal and reflux disease, drugs prescribed for treatment of Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders and Obesity, Diabetes medications, Migraine medications, Antihistamines, Abortifacient, drugs prescribed for treatment of Hyperparathyroidism, Dermatology.

Psychiatry
This panel evaluates your personal ability to metabolize the following type of drugs:
Antidepressant I, Antidepressant II, as well as additional SNPs of Importance for Treatment Using Antidepressants, additional SNPs of Importance for the Treatment of Depression and Psychosis, and the Treatment of Alcohol and Tobacco Use Disorders, Typical Antipsychotic, Atypical Antipsychotic, additional SNP’s of Importance for treatment that includes the use of antipsychotics and for the treatment of autism.

Neurology
This panel evaluates your personal ability to metabolize the following type of drugs:
Drugs prescribed for treatment of ADHD and related drugs, Treatment of Epilepsy, Anxiolytic, Hypnotic, Sedative, Anticonvulsant, Muscle Relaxants, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Related Drugs. In addition this panel also assesses a range of SNP’s of Importance for different Medical Condition and personality, as well as SNP’s of Importance for hypersensitivity reactions.

Infectology
This panel evaluates your personal ability to metabolize the following type of drugs:
Antibiotics, Antimalarial, Anthelmintic, Antifungal, Antiretroviral, Antiviral.

Oncology, Haematology
This panel evaluates your personal ability to metabolize the following type of drugs:

Antineoplastic I, Antineoplastic II, Antineoplastic Targeted Therapy I, Antineoplastic Targeted Therapy II.

Organ Transplantation
This panel evaluates your personal ability to metabolize the following type of drugs:
Immunosuppressive, Immunomodulator.

Anaesthesiology
This panel evaluates your personal ability to metabolize the following type of drugs:
Anaesthetic, Muscle Relaxants.

Urology
This panel evaluates your personal ability to metabolize the following type of drugs:
Drugs prescribed for the treatment of Incontinence, Erectile Dysfunction and Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy.

Endocrinology
This panel evaluates your personal ability to metabolize the following type of drugs:
Contraceptives, Androgens, Anti-androgens, Glucocorticoid, Thyroid.

Recreational Drugs
This panel evaluates your personal ability to metabolize the following type of drugs:
Alcohol, Barbiturates, Benzodiazepines, Cannabinoids, Synthetic Cannabis, Dissociative Drugs, Tobacco, as well as additional SNP’s of Importance for Recreational Drugs.

What is required for testing?

You will need a referral letter from your GP or Genetic Counsellor for this test. Once you have confirmed that you wish to proceed with testing, we can provide you with the necessary referral form to be filled out and signed by your Doctor or Genetic Counsellor.All we require for this test is a small blood sample which will be taken by a medical professional. We can provide you with details for one of our affiliated collectors based on your location.Please note that PGx screening requires counselling from a certified professional, who can guide through the testing process and provide information about the testing. Please contact our customer care team if you need help finding a genetic counsellor.

Ordering your test:

The cost for any two (2) panels starts at just From RM2,400 and additional panels can be added for an extra cost. Please contact our friendly team for a personalized quote.

We arrange everything for you. Upon confirmation of your order we will send you an email with the Referral forms your Doctor will need to sign and return to us by Fax, the email will also include a recommendation for one of our affiliated Pathology Collection Centre close to you. We will arrange your appointment and book the courier to collect your samples after your appointment.Results will be available within 14-21 working days after receipt of specimen in our Brisbane laboratory and will be emailed to your referring GP or Genetic Counsellor as soon as they are available.

Note: Your only additional cost will be the blood collection fee that may vary based on State/Location. Once your order is received, we will email you to confirm the order and advise the applicable fee for sample collection. Alternatively, you may contact our office for a quote.