Pharmacogenomics (Personalised Medicine)

Pharmacogenomic (PGx) testing can help you get on the right medication at the right dose, the first time.

Your genetic make up (your DNA) provides a crucial role in how your body responds to medication.
Pharmacogenomic (PGx) DNA testing empowers you and your healthcare provider to develop a tailored treatment plan for maximum effectiveness.

Have you?

Taken medications in the past and found them not to work?

  • Previously experienced significant side effects from your medication?
  • Required doses of specific medications outside the recommended range?
Pharmacogenomic Testing (PGx) of your DNA may be able to help

How?

Depending on your unique genetic makeup, you may process a medication:

  • Faster than normal, which may cause the medication to not provide the desired symptom relief
  • Slower than normal, which may increase the risk of side-effects

This is because we all process medications differently.

If we are all given the same medication at the same dose, we react in four different ways:

  • They drug will work but will cause side effects
  • The drug won’t work and will also cause side effects
  • The drug won’t work but there will be no side effects
  • The drug will work and there will be no side effects

By testing our DNA, we can work out how we may react to each medication.

Thus testing can help your doctor determine the right medication at the right dose for you.

Benefits of PGx testing

  • Avoid ineffective medications: Ensure the medications prescribed are suited to your genetic profile.
  • Improved treatment outcomes: Experience better health results with medications that work for you.
  • Minimized risk of side effects: Reduce the chances of experiencing adverse reactions.
  • Optimized drug selection and dosing: Receive the most appropriate medications at the correct dose from the start.
  • Reduce long-term health impacts: Protect your health by avoiding medications that don’t work or cause harm.
  • Save time and money: Skip the trial-and-error process of finding the right medication.
  • Fast-track your treatment: Get on the path to the right medication, at the right dose, the first time.

Pharmacogenomic testing is a powerful tool that empowers both you and your doctor to make informed, personalized decisions about your medication, helping you achieve better health outcomes quickly and safely.

Patients' process

Step 1

See your doctor to get a request

See your doctor to get a request form for testing and discuss Pharmacogenomic (PGx) testing with them.

Step 2

Pay and have your sample collected

Prepay for your test online here or contact our Customer Care team on 1800 822 999. Note that Medicare does NOT cover the cost of testing.

Write your receipt number on the request form and get your blood collected at your closest Healius Pathology Network* collection centre.

Step 3

See your doctor to get your results

Your results will be sent to your doctor approximately 2 weeks after having your blood collected. Please discuss them with your doctor and ask for a copy of your results.

FAQ

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Why Pharmacogenomics for your patients?

Pharmacogenomics is the study of the role that DNA variants play in drug efficacy. The DNA variants may either be inherited, and part of an individual’s inherited genetic make-up, or may be acquired in a person’s tumour (non-heritable) and can be used to predict drug responses or the likelihood of adverse drug reactions.

In addition to specific tests available for the enzymes thiopurine S-methyltransferase (TPMT) and glucuronyltransferase (UGT1A1), the Pharmacogenomic (PGx) Multi panel  covers enzymes involved in breaking down medications used in the mental health area and the pain area as well as a wide range of other medications.

In the case of cancer treatment, the mutations acquired in a person’s tumour (non-heritable) may make the tumour more sensitive or resistant to treatment targeted gene, or gene pathway, specific treatment.

Providing the patient with the right dose of the right medicine is the aim of personalised medicine. Variation in an individual’s genetic makeup compared to others in the general population can affect their response to medications because some of these variations affect drug metabolic pathways. In some cases, this may result in sub-optimal therapeutic levels, or conversely, toxic adverse effects.

How to interpret the PGx Multi medication Report?

Clinicians' process

Step 1

Patient Consultation

Discuss Pharmacogenomic (PGX) testing with your patient and provide a request form. Ensure you note all relevant medications patient has been on in the past and is currently on as well as those being considered.

Step 2

Sample collection

Patients are required to prepay for their PGx Multi here and note their receipt number of the request form. They then attend their most convenient collection centre with their signed request form.

Step 3

Result discussion

Results are delivered to you by your preferred method approximately 2 weeks after the patient has their blood collected.

FAQ

Resources

Pharmacogenomics doctor brochure
Download
Pharmacogenomics Medication
Download
Pharmacogenomics - Cardiology medication fact sheet
Download
Pharmacogenomic report (sample)
Download