PHASER program

Knowing about how your genes affect medicines can help your health care team:

• Decide which medicines and doses may work better for you
• Help avoid side effects caused by medicines

The test requires one tube of blood. It will take up to two weeks for your health care team to get results and add them to your VA medical record.

Your provider will discuss and answer your questions about:

• What the PGx test results may find
• What happens to your sample after testing
• Your privacy
• Benefits, limitations and risks

Genetics only tells us part of the story. Other things like age, overall health, other medicines you take and body size also affect how you respond to medicines. The VA PGx test does not test for all genes, but only certain genes that we know affect selected medicines. There may be other medicines you are taking that are affected by genes that we do not test for.

The risk is low, like other tests that require blood draws. The medicine recommended by your PGx test may be more expensive if it is not preferred by the VA. You might receive an unexpected test result describing a risk for a medical problem. Your VA healthcare team will work with you to manage your test results.

Your PGx test results will be kept confidential within the VA and will only be shared with your permission or if there is a court order.

Your results show each gene tested by gene name. The type of gene you have is described in 2 ways – the genotype and phenotype – both describe the type of differences in genes that were found by the test.

Many of the genes tested describe how your body processes medicines. For example, rapid metabolizers process some medicines quickly. Poor metabolizers may not process some medicines well.

Remember, not all genes tested affect your medicines you are currently prescribed. Similarly, not all of your medicines are affected by the genes tested. Please talk to your provider or pharmacist about how your test results apply to your medicines.

PGx test results do not change overtime. However, new information may change how the results are used. Scientists are still working to find other genes that are important for medicine response. You may be tested for new genes discovered in the future.

Your test results only tell us part of the story. Other things like age, overall health, other medicines you take, and body size also affect how your body responds to medicines. Your provider will use all these factors to prescribe the most appropriate medicines and doses for you.

PGx test results can be complex. Talk to your provider about questions or concerns for the most correct information. If you see more than one provider, please share your test results with your other providers. This is especially helpful if a different provider starts a new medicine for you, or if you see a provider outside the VA.