Pharmacogenomics (PGx) combines the study of genetics with the science of drug delivery. PGx testing can help predict how a patient may respond to drug therapy based on their DNA.

• Dramatically reduce your risk of experiencing an Adverse Drug Reaction
• Most comprehensive PGx test with the highest degree of clinical evidence
• Predicts drug interactions with recommendations for alternatives
• Eliminates “Trial and Error” frustration from non-therapeutic prescriptions
• Helps to reduce healthcare costs in multiple ways
• 10%–20% of hospital inpatients will have at least one ADR
• Medicare part B covers the costs 100% (No HMO’s)
• The FDA reports that the annual cost of ADR exceeds $136 billion

• Every year 2 million people in the U.S. are hospitalized due to ADR
• Annually some 125,000 people unnecessarily die from ADR
• It’s estimated another 2-4 million people suffer with side effects at home
• ADR is the 4th leading cause of death and 65-70% could be prevented
• Allergic reactions make up 5-10% of ADR – the rest are genetic mutations
• PGx Reduces hospital visits by 1/3 for seniors taking more than one med
• Over 300 medications are known to cause ADR due to genetic factors
• National Institute of Health (NIH) – PGx testing could save $3,962 per year

In this story, Karen Daggett, a Mayo Clinic patient, shares a story about health scare she had while in Florida. She and her family discuss how Pharmaocgenomic (PGx) testing plays a part in their health care.

A buccal swab, also known as buccal smear, is a way to collect DNA from the cells inside of a person’s cheek. Buccal swabs are a relatively non-invasive way to collect DNA samples for testing. Buccal means cheek or mouth.

The same drug and dosage that helps you, may not be effective for me, and may send a third person to the hospital. This is called an Adverse Drug Reaction, and there’s an easy way for you to avoid it!