Test guide
Pharmacogenetic Tests
Pharmacogenetics (also called pharmacogenomics ) is the study of how your genes affect the way your body responds to certain medicines . Genes are parts of DNA in your cells that you inherit from your parents. You inherit two copies of each gene, one from each parent. Genes carry information that controls what you look like and how your body works.
What it is for
Because not everyone responds to medicine the same way, providers consider a variety of factors before deciding which medicine to prescribe. These factors include: This approach is called precision medicine, and it also includes pharmacogenetic testing. Providers use pharmacogenetic testing to look for genes related to specific health conditions and medicines. So, if you are being treated for high cholesterol , your provider may test for a specific gene variant that can affect your response to some cholesterol-lowering medicines. Source: MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine. Medical test information is public domain. Source identity and definition checked automatically on 2026-10-18. No individual clinical interpretation or human reviewer is asserted.
Limitations
Reference intervals and interpretation depend on the laboratory, specimen, method and clinical context. This source definition is educational information; it does not establish a diagnosis, product approval or suitability for an individual.
Also known as
- pharmacogenomics, pharmacogenomic testing
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