New offering combines genetic testing with clinical decision support tools to help optimize medication selection and dosing across multiple specialties.
Quest Diagnostics has launched a pharmacogenomic (PGx) laboratory test service designed to help healthcare providers understand individual genetic responses to select drug therapies and optimize medication selection and dosing decisions.
The new service targets providers across multiple medical specialties including psychiatry, neurology, cardiology, oncology, rheumatology, pain management, and transplant medicine. The offering aims to reduce trial-and-error prescribing approaches while improving patient outcomes, particularly in cases involving polypharmacy.
“Healthcare providers recognize the crucial, yet often complex, role that genetics can play in drug response. This impact may be heightened when polypharmacy is part of the treatment equation,” says Steven Keiles, general manager US specialty genetics and genomics services at Quest Diagnostics, in a release. “Our goal for this PGx offering from Quest Diagnostics and Coriell Life Sciences is to help providers more efficiently leverage genetic insights to help guide prescription decisions and decrease trial-and-error while improving outcomes.”
Test Panel and Clinical Decision Support
The Quest PGx offering analyzes 17 genes and 4 HLA alleles, focusing on genes with recognized evidence of gene-drug associations and defined medical utility. The selected genes possess clinically actionable pharmacogenetic associations informed by expert groups including the Clinical Pharmacogenetics Implementation Consortium, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and ClinPGx.
The service includes a Quest-delivered report with genotype and predicted phenotypic response, alongside medication guidance via a personalized report powered by Coriell Life Sciences (now InformedDNA). Clinicians also receive direct access to GeneDose LIVE, Coriell Life Sciences’ clinical decision support tool that enables evaluation of a patient’s complete therapeutic regimen, assessing each medication for genetic and non-genetic risks in the context of all other prescribed therapies.
“Working with Quest, InformedDNA’s goal is turning genetic results into better health outcomes. Our reporting translates complex genetic data into clear guidance on which medications are most likely to be for each patient,” says Dr Jeffrey Shaman, vice president of medical affairs, InformedDNA, in a release. “Together, we’re giving providers the tools they need to deliver truly individualized care that improves treatment success and optimizes initial medication choices.”
Testing Access and Collection Options
Patients can access testing by presenting a requisition from their doctor at one of Quest’s 2,000 patient service centers across the United States. Quest is also offering at-home phlebotomy collection services for situations where scheduling, distance, or other barriers make in-office testing difficult.
For laboratories seeking flexibility, Quest offers an alternative option that provides only the genotype and predicted phenotypic response without the enhanced clinical decision support tools.
Market Impact and Clinical Rationale
Research indicates PGx testing may help prevent therapeutic failure and adverse drug interactions while avoiding unnecessary drug costs and expenses associated with managing drug-related complications. Variations in drug-metabolizing enzymes, drug-target proteins, and drug transporters can cause patients to metabolize medications too quickly, too slowly, or not at all, potentially leading to treatment failure or adverse reactions.
According to FDA research, adverse drug reactions represent the fourth leading cause of death in the United States, highlighting the potential clinical impact of genetic-guided prescribing approaches.
The launch comes as InformedDNA has acquired Coriell Life Sciences, combining InformedDNA’s genetics expertise and technology platform with Coriell Life Sciences’ pharmacogenomics capabilities. The combined organization maintains the largest independent staff of board-certified genetics specialists in the US.
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