Frequently Asked QuestionsFrequently Asked Questions Do not alter the dosage amount or schedule of any drug you are taking without first consulting your medical provider or pharmacist. How do I order DNA Prescription Drug Reaction Testing?Call Genelex today at 800-523-3080 to order testing, order on-line, or download the order form and fax or mail in your order. Don't forget to take a look at our other informational genetic testing products now as you receive significant discounts when ordering tests at the same time.
Will DNA Prescription Drug Reaction Testing be covered by my medical insurance?All testing must be prepaid, but some insurance companies will reimburse for this testing. When you order testing be sure to ask for an invoice with CPT codes to submit to your insurance company. The CPT codes are as follows if you would like to confirm eligibility for reimbursement in advance: CYP2D6 CPT codes - 1 X 83891, 6 X 83898, 3 X 83894, and 1 X83912 CYP2C9, CYP2C19, and CYP1A2 CPT codes - 1 X 83891, 2 X 83898, 2 X 83894, and 1 X83912 NAT2 - 1 X 83891, 2 X 83901, 1 X 83892, 7 X 83896, 1 X 83912 * Tell the insurance company that the DNA tests spot individual genetic variants in the three most important drug metabolizing enzymes (DMEs): the cytochrome P-450s CYP2D6, CYP2C19 and CYP2C9. More than half of the population has one or more serious defects in the genes coding for these enzymes. Recent research shows that genetic variation in the drug metabolizing system is the principal factor affecting a patient's response to drugs. This information helps physicians determine the appropriateness and dosage of roughly half of the most commonly prescribed drugs. How has DNA Prescription Drug Reaction Testing been used up to this point?Pharmaceutical companies regularly use these tests in clinical trials, to exclude people from the trials. Medical centers around the country are also beginning to use these tests on their own patients to avoid adverse drug reactions (ADRs) and achieve more accurate prescribing. Why is this testing just now becoming available?There are many reasons. Key elements of this test have recently been developed. ADRs don't have an organized constituency like most diseases do, no American Cancer Society or March of Dimes. Many doctors do not realize the extent of the problem and the large pharmaceutical companies and insurers may have a difficult time becoming motivated to act because of the added initial costs. Genelex has made this test available to the public so people can benefit now from the recent advances in pharmacogenetics. We also wish to recognize that more people want to take greater responsibility for their own healthcare. We support that decision. What is pharmacogenetics?Pharmacogenetics is the study of how individual people respond to medicines based on their genetic makeup. When you take a drug or are exposed to an environmental toxin, enzymes in your liver, intestines and other tissues go to work to breakdown that drug so that it can be excreted. Your genes provide the instructions for making these enzymes, several of which may be involved in the breakdown and excretion of any particular drug. Your specific genetic makeup determines how these enzymes interact and whether they work faster or slower than average. How are drugs processed by the body?Drugs act on target sites in body tissues to cause a therapeutic effect. They are removed from the body by being converted into an inactive form. The P-450 family of drug metabolizing enzymes inactivates most prescription drugs. The most important and most thoroughly studied of these enzymes are CYP2D6 and CYP2C9. More than half of the population has at least one defect in these enzymes that can greatly increase the risk of an adverse drug reaction. What are adverse drug reactions?Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) depend on the type of drug or combination of drugs being taken. They have many causes and are often not well understood. Many ADRs occur because individual differences in drug metabolizing enzymes (DMEs) and other parts of the processing systems have not been taken into account when the drug was approved or prescribed. Three-fourths of all ADRs are dose-dependent, with many occurring at standard manufacturer-recommended doses. A 1998 medical report found adverse drug reactions to be the fourth leading cause of death in the U.S., at more than 100,000 annually. Why don't you test the CYP3A4 pathway if so many drugs are metabolized through it?Current studies show that although CYP3A4 varies genetically, these genetic variations do not appear to have important functional significance. Environmental factors appear to be far more important. What are the most useful enzymes to test genetically?
For additional information on these and other prescription drugs visit http://www.rxlist.com/top200.htm Check Common Drugs Processed by Enzymes We Test Order DNA Prescription Drug Reaction Profile Disclaimer The information presented on this site is intended as general health information and as an educational tool. It is not intended as medical advice. Only a physician, pharmacist, or other healthcare professional should advise a patient on medical issues and should do so using a medical history and other factors identified and documented as part of the health professional/patient relationship. |
