PHARMACOGENETICS IN THE PHARMACYThe right dose, thanks to DNA analysis.
With the Medication DNA Test, the pharmacy helps clients get the right medicine at the right dose, and uses pharmacogenetics as a structural part of pharmaceutical care. The test is available separately, or is used as insured care when there is an indication.
For the client, it is the Medication DNA Test of their own pharmacy: a stand-alone test with its own app, always including guidance from the pharmacist. The results appear in the pharmacy system, and the guidance is matched by compensation.
Pharmacogenetics is becoming the standard in pharmaceutical care.
Pharmacogenetics is developing from specialised care into standard care. More and more doctors and clients ask for dosage advice based on DNA, and the pharmacist is the obvious expert to give and monitor that advice.
The Medication DNA Test can be used both reactively and proactively. Reactively in the case of side effects or insufficient effect of medication, as pharmacogenetics is already widely used now. And proactively, with the dosage advice already available before the first dispensing. The pharmacogenetic profile remains usable for life and is updated as soon as the DPWG and CPIC guidelines change.
95%
of people have at least one genetic variation that leads to an officially adjusted dosage advice for one or more medicines.
Source: Kabbani et al., Frontiers in Pharmacology, 2023.
One test, the complete pharmacogenetic profile.
If testing is carried out, a comprehensive test is the obvious choice, because the result remains usable for life. That is why the iGene Medication DNA Test examines the complete panel in one go, where many laboratories only examine the genes requested.
- Broad and deep. One comprehensive test of more than 15 enzymes and transport proteins, immediately usable for all medicines in the advice and usable for life.
- Zooming in only where needed. Sometimes it is necessary to zoom in on a specific sub-area. An additional test then follows.
- Cost-effective. Test broadly and deeply once, and add to it only where needed: this is how good pharmacogenetic care can be organised cost-effectively.
Including additional analysis in exceptional cases.
The iGene Medication DNA Test is broad and deep, and in most cases that one analysis is sufficient. Sometimes the results show that it is necessary to zoom in on a specific sub-area, for example in the case of gene duplications. Result Laboratorium specialises in this, and together with Result, iGene has set up a good solution for it. Result Laboratorium provides the laboratory diagnostics, including DNA testing, for among others the Albert Schweitzer ziekenhuis, the Beatrixziekenhuis and the Amphia Ziekenhuis, and for other healthcare providers in the south-west of the Netherlands.
In this way, with one test the pharmacist has the certainty of the client’s complete pharmacogenetic profile, including for clients for whom a more exceptional determination is needed.
From kit in stock to dosage advice.
The test can be taken in three ways; they are set out below.
- In stockThe pharmacy simply has the Medication DNA Test in stock.
- RequestWhen there is a request, for example from the GP or from the client, the pharmacist hands over a kit.
- Sample collectionThe client collects the saliva. The tube goes to iGene.
- AnalysisiGene analyses the DNA in an ISO 15189-accredited laboratory.
- In the pharmacy’s own systemResultsThe results appear in the PGx dashboard and in the pharmacy system.
Three ways to take the test.
Route 1Over the counter, sample collection at home.
- Purchase. The client buys the Medication DNA Test in the pharmacy, or online via the pharmacy.
- Sample collection at home. The client collects the saliva themselves at home and sends the sample back to iGene.
- Linking. When linking in the Medication DNA Test app, the client chooses their own pharmacy.
- Results. The results and the dosage advice appear automatically in the PGx dashboard for the pharmacist.
Route 2Over the counter, sample collection in the pharmacy.
- Purchase. The client buys the Medication DNA Test in the pharmacy.
- Sample collection in the pharmacy. The saliva sample is collected in the pharmacy, under the guidance of the pharmacist. The sample goes from the pharmacy to iGene.
- Linking. The profile is linked to the pharmacy.
- Results. The results and the dosage advice appear automatically in the PGx dashboard for the pharmacist.
Route 3 · The NetherlandsWith an indication: insured care.
- Indication. In the case of side effects, insufficient effect of medication or polypharmacy.
- Insured profile. The pharmacist creates an insured profile in the dashboard and hands over the kit. Sample collection can take place at home or in the pharmacy.
- Application. The insurance application is handled via the same dashboard.
- Results. The results and the dosage advice appear automatically in the PGx dashboard for the pharmacist.
Added value for the client and the pharmacy.
- For the clientA lifelong pharmacogenetic passport, with guidance from their own pharmacy. The results can also be viewed in the Medication DNA Test app.
- For the pharmacyCompensation for the guidance, a stronger role in medication guidance and the possibility of extending the service with pharmacogenetic consultations.
- In the pharmacy’s own systemDosage advice according to the guidelines of KNMP and DPWG, with contraindication codes in the pharmacy system.
“Because of the ever-increasing demand for care, we have to focus on prevention and efficient use of medicines. With tools of this kind in the field of pharmacogenetics, we can make use of our professional expertise, in collaboration with GPs.”
Vince Maar, pharmacist · translated from Dutch
A fully automated solution for pharmacy chains.
The Medication DNA Test is already available at, among others, BENU, Alphega and Boots. For pharmacy chains the entire process is automated: from the logistics of the kits to the results in the pharmacy system of every branch. In this way pharmacogenetics is available across the whole network in one go, under the chain’s own name if desired. Because the pharmacy manages the pharmacogenetic results of its clients, it also ensures greater client loyalty in the long term.
What the solution includes
- One platform for all branches
- Full or partial integration with the pharmacy system
- Under the chain’s own name if desired, for even greater client loyalty
Good to know.
Does the test meet the requirements for use in the pharmacy?
The test is already widely used in pharmacies and of course meets all relevant certifications, from ISO 27001 to ISO 15189 for the laboratory. At least as important: in terms of automation and IT, the test connects smoothly with the pharmacy system, so that a pharmacist can work with it almost immediately.
For which medicines does the dashboard give advice?
For 60+ medicines, according to the guidelines of DPWG and CPIC. The advice is updated as soon as the guidelines change.
How quickly can a pharmacy get started?
Almost immediately. After watching the explainer video about the PGx dashboard once, it is clear how it works. Everything else has been tested and automated, and already works in practice at many pharmacies. For questions, a service desk is also available, with the pharmacogenetic experts of iGene, by email or telephone.