Scientific research is an amazing thing. The intricacies and complexities of a research lab can translate to improved medicine for all of us. One such example is the Human Genome Project. This is most likely a term you’ve heard — but you may not know how it affects you.
The project started in 1990 and was completed in 2003. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), an international group of researchers was able to look at DNA and map out a human blueprint. The results? Our doctors now have a better understanding of certain diseases and how they can best be treated.
Cutting-Edge Pharmacogenetics Testing
This project has led to what the CDC calls precision medicine or pharmacogenetics — the study of how a person’s genes affect their response to certain medications. The goal of pharmacogenetics is to make your life better. Through pharmacogenetics testing, results show your provider which drugs and doses will be best suited to treat you for a myriad of conditions.
Drugs work with the body in several ways depending on how they are taken and where they act in your body. Think about something as simple as an over-the-counter pain reliever due to a headache, for example. Once you ingest the tablets, the body breaks them down with enzymes and then remarkably knows how to send that drug to your head to clear up the headache. It’s your DNA that affects the process and your body’s response.
Real Results to Improve Your Health
DNA testing can be a valuable tool to determine how you respond to drugs. If you think about the possibilities, genetic testing for medications can determine whether you may have a bad reaction to a drug or if a specific drug won’t be effective for you. This is a vital and helpful tool to know if a certain drug will be safe or beneficial to your wellness. It helps your provider prescribe medications tailored to work best based on your genetic makeup.
Advanced Testing at Any Lab Test Now®
That’s where Any Lab Test Now® comes in. We provide innovative ways to manage your health through comprehensive testing. We have a complete pharmacogenetic analysis at your disposal. The COMPREHENSIVE PGX PANEL tests for 50 different variations on 14 different genes and reports the effects an individual’s genotype may have on the response to over 200 commonly prescribed medications. This test uses the DNA collected from the buccal swabs to test a wide variety of genes that have been identified as having a significant clinical impact. Results are typically available within 5-7 days.
How This Helps Mental Health
So why take this test? Remember, results will help your provider know what meds work best for you and the dosing amounts. Think about how significant this is for anyone who is prescribed anti-depressant or anti-anxiety medications. Rather than providers taking a shot in the dark making you, the patient, go through weeks and months of trial and error — pharmacogenetics analysis eliminates the guessing game, as your provider will have advance knowledge of which prescription helps your condition with little or no side effects. Start feeling better, faster.
Prescribing Customized Anti-Depressants
The same is true when determining what prescription pain medication will be safest and most effective for you. The National Institutes of Health released a study on Genetic Testing for Opioid Pain Management. Chronic pain is one of the top issues patients discuss with their physicians. CYP2D6 is responsible for the metabolism of most of the commonly prescribed opiate medications like codeine, tramadol, hydrocodone, and oxycodone. Patients are classified by their genetic ability to metabolize a medication.
Cardiac Care Without Second Guessing
Pharmacogenetics testing can also advise physicians about the best medication per specific patient when it comes to cardiovascular disease. The NIH studied the use of DNA testing with medications involving blood thinners, blood pressure, and cholesterol.
Testing that Works for You
Any Lab Test Now® is your partner as you try to maintain health and wellness for you and your family. Whether it’s DNA testing or any of the thousands of tests we provide, remember, you can walk in for same-day testing during work-friendly hours.
How to Handle Your Test Results
The lab tests we provide are confidential, affordable, and convenient. You own the results, and you choose how to proceed with them. However, we encourage you to consult with a provider for further details to make the best decisions about your health. If you do not have a primary care physician, Any Lab Test Now® has partnered with Dial Care. This service can help you find a provider licensed in your state.
Any Lab Test Now® is Your Partner in Health
Great innovations in medicine, like pharmacogenetics testing, give you options in healthcare. This testing is available at Any Lab Test Now®. We are here to provide the tests you need to get answers to your health concerns and foster optimum wellness. Call now to schedule an appointment at a location near you.
