Meds: O - S

Pharmacogenetic Test

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Research Highlights

Developing Computer Models for Personalized Drug Dosing

Alexander (Sander) Vinks, PharmD, PhD is principal investigator for several studies examining variations in how pediatric patients absorb and metabolize drugs and what role genetics may play in these variations and therapeutic responses.

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Purpose

The purpose of the pharmacogenetic test is to see if your child is at increased risk to having problems with a particular medicine.

Explanation

Genes are pieces of DNA that are inherited from parents. Some of these genes affect the way medicines work in the body. There can be slight differences in each gene's structure. These differences can affect how people react to medicine.

  1. Some gene differences might make it harder for the body to get rid of some medicines. This means that usual doses of the medicine could give some people unexpected side effects.
  2. Some gene differences can cause the body to use up a medicine too fast. This means that normal doses don't work as well and the person may need higher doses.
  3. Some gene differences won't let certain medicines work in the body at all. This means a different medicine may work better.

Benefits

  1. The test may improve the chance that the medicine will help your child.
  2. The test may lower the chance of severe side effects from the medicine.
  3. The test is being done to try to improve your child's safety.
  4. The test looks at common gene differences. If your child's genes match one of these common gene differences the test will never need to be repeated.
  5. The genes tested today may be important for medicines that your child needs in the future.

Limitations

  1. The test only looks at common gene differences. If your child has one or more rare gene differences, the test will not detect them. Some of these rare differences might affect how your child reacts to the medicine.
  2. Gene differences are only one of many factors that can affect how your child reacts to medicine. A few examples of other factors are your child's age, weight, illness, other medications, lifestyle and environment. These factors need to be considered along with the test results.
  3. In the future, some of these common gene differences may be found to be associated with other medical conditions.

The Test

This test is optional. Your child can be treated with standard medicine doses without gene testing.

About ½ teaspoon of blood will be drawn by a needle and sent to the lab. It is also possible to do the test on scrapings from inside your child's cheek. Special brushes are needed to obtain the cheek scrapings. There are no special preparations for either type of sample.

Test results on a blood sample will be ready in 2 business days. Test results on cheek scrapings will be ready in 4 business days. Test results will be placed in your child's medical records. The report will list medications and recommend doses based on the test results.

This is a gene test. Genes are inherited from biologic parents. Your child's test results may be important for other family members. Biologic brothers, sisters and parents may have one or more of the tested genes in common.

Your child's DNA from the sample may be stored for up to two years in case future tests are needed. Your child's sample or DNA will not be used for research purposes.

Contact Us

For additional information on this or any Health Topic, please call the Family Resource Center, 513-636-7606, or your pediatrician.

rev. 7/06, 9/07