Quest Diagnostics Introduces Advanced Pharmacogenomics Service to Optimize Drug Prescribing

What's Happening?

Quest Diagnostics has launched an advanced pharmacogenomic (PGx) laboratory test service aimed at helping healthcare providers understand patients' genetic responses to specific drug therapies. This service is designed to optimize medication selection and dosing across various medical specialties, including psychiatry, neurology, cardiology, oncology, and pain management. The PGx offering includes insights from 17 genes and 4 HLA alleles, providing actionable recommendations based on gene-drug associations. The service aims to reduce trial-and-error in prescribing, prevent therapeutic failures, and avoid adverse drug interactions.

Why It's Important?

The introduction of Quest Diagnostics' PGx service is significant as it enhances personalized medicine by tailoring drug therapies to individual genetic profiles. This approach can improve treatment outcomes, reduce healthcare costs associated with drug-related complications, and minimize adverse drug interactions, which are a leading cause of death in the U.S. The service empowers clinicians with genetic insights to make informed prescribing decisions, potentially transforming patient care across multiple specialties.

What's Next?

Quest Diagnostics plans to offer the PGx testing service through its 2,000 patient service centers across the U.S., with options for home collection services to increase accessibility. The collaboration with InformedDNA aims to further integrate genetic insights into clinical practice, supporting precision medicine initiatives. As the healthcare industry continues to embrace genetic testing, providers may increasingly rely on PGx services to enhance patient care and optimize therapeutic regimens.

Beyond the Headlines

The expansion of pharmacogenomics raises ethical considerations regarding genetic data privacy and the potential for genetic discrimination. The integration of genetic testing into routine clinical practice may require adjustments in healthcare policies and provider education to ensure responsible use of genetic information. Additionally, the collaboration between Quest Diagnostics and InformedDNA highlights the growing importance of partnerships in advancing precision medicine.