Labratory Testing
BLOOD TESTS
We do not currently have medical tests, such as blood tests, that can diagnose psychiatric disorders. However, we do know that certain physical conditions (such as thyroid disease or Vitamin D deficiency) can impact your mental health. In psychiatry, we may order certain blood tests ("labs") to rule out medical causes of psychiatric symptoms.
Blood tests may also be ordered to screen for general medical problems or to monitor the effect of certain medications on your body.
PHARMACOGENOMICS (PGx) TESTING
What is pharmacogenomics? Pharmacogenomics (PGx) is the study of how genes affect a person’s response to medications. PGx combines the study of how medications affect our bodies (pharmacology) with the study of our genes and their functions (genomics) to identify effective, safe medications and doses for patients. PGx may help with current prescriptions; providers can get insight into why a patient might be experiencing adverse effects or is not experiencing the expected benefits from a medication they’re already taking. PGx may also help with decisions regarding new prescriptions; before prescribing a new medication, providers can leverage a patient’s PGx profile to make more informed decisions.
What are genes? Genes are sections of DNA, and variations in your DNA are what make you unique. The different versions of a gene you inherit from your mother and father can determine everything from your eye color to how quickly you process, or metabolize, medications.
How your genes affect your response to medications: When you take a medication, your body’s response is determined by many factors, including your gender, weight, age, diet, other medications, medical conditions, and exposure to environmental agents such as cigarette smoke. Your genetic makeup also can have a major influence. In fact, genetic factors can account for up to 95% of how you respond to medications.
How drugs are metabolized by your body: Depending on variations in your genes, your body may break down (metabolize) a drug too slowly or too quickly. If you metabolize a drug too slowly, you may be exposed to too much of it, which may result in adverse drug reactions or side effects. If you metabolize a drug too quickly, you may not receive enough of it, which may prevent or reduce the desired effect. Understanding how you metabolize drugs may help your provider determine optimal medications and doses.
Source: OneOme, LLC. (2019). Introduction to pharmacogenomics. Retrieved from
https://oneome.com/intro-to-pgx
We do not currently have medical tests, such as blood tests, that can diagnose psychiatric disorders. However, we do know that certain physical conditions (such as thyroid disease or Vitamin D deficiency) can impact your mental health. In psychiatry, we may order certain blood tests ("labs") to rule out medical causes of psychiatric symptoms.
Blood tests may also be ordered to screen for general medical problems or to monitor the effect of certain medications on your body.
PHARMACOGENOMICS (PGx) TESTING
What is pharmacogenomics? Pharmacogenomics (PGx) is the study of how genes affect a person’s response to medications. PGx combines the study of how medications affect our bodies (pharmacology) with the study of our genes and their functions (genomics) to identify effective, safe medications and doses for patients. PGx may help with current prescriptions; providers can get insight into why a patient might be experiencing adverse effects or is not experiencing the expected benefits from a medication they’re already taking. PGx may also help with decisions regarding new prescriptions; before prescribing a new medication, providers can leverage a patient’s PGx profile to make more informed decisions.
What are genes? Genes are sections of DNA, and variations in your DNA are what make you unique. The different versions of a gene you inherit from your mother and father can determine everything from your eye color to how quickly you process, or metabolize, medications.
How your genes affect your response to medications: When you take a medication, your body’s response is determined by many factors, including your gender, weight, age, diet, other medications, medical conditions, and exposure to environmental agents such as cigarette smoke. Your genetic makeup also can have a major influence. In fact, genetic factors can account for up to 95% of how you respond to medications.
How drugs are metabolized by your body: Depending on variations in your genes, your body may break down (metabolize) a drug too slowly or too quickly. If you metabolize a drug too slowly, you may be exposed to too much of it, which may result in adverse drug reactions or side effects. If you metabolize a drug too quickly, you may not receive enough of it, which may prevent or reduce the desired effect. Understanding how you metabolize drugs may help your provider determine optimal medications and doses.
Source: OneOme, LLC. (2019). Introduction to pharmacogenomics. Retrieved from
https://oneome.com/intro-to-pgx
