Genetic clues in your mouth predict if your next prescription will work

26 Jun Genetic clues in your mouth predict if your next prescription will work

Genetic clues in your mouth can predict if your next prescription will work using the right collection method and precision prescribing software.

Your mouth harbors genetic clues about whether your medication will work and can rule out the possibility of an adverse drug reaction. Today, there are different methods to collect those DNA clues from your mouth but are all these collection methods the same or do some work better than others?

A recent study from the GenXys team revealed that sponge-tipped swabs provide good quantity and quality of DNA to detect genetic variants that can predict drug response using a technique called qPCR (quantitative polymerase chain reaction). This pharmacogenetic information can we uploaded into a precision prescribing software to personalize prescriptions and increase medication safety as well as effectiveness.

The results of the study can help researchers and genetic testing companies identify an optimal collection method that yields high-quality DNA to detect genetic variants affecting drug response. The study provided new information on DNA quality for two commercially available cheek swabs as well as amount of DNA (yield). Although both cheek swabs provided high DNA quality, there was a significant difference in DNA yield. In the study, the sponge-tipped swabs had the highest genotyping call rate (97% vs. 54%) and highest confidence score for Copy Number Variants (CNV) for a gene called CYP2D6 (TaqMan Assay: 0.99 vs. 0.91) using the OpenArray platform.

The authors concluded that sponge-tipped swabs provide good quality DNA of sufficient yield for qPCR pharmacogenetic testing and are acceptable to patients. Pharmacogenetic testing can be used to inform prescription decisions and avoid adverse drug reactions using precision prescribing software.

For more details, here is a link to the paper – it is Open Source!