Genetic Testing
About Genetic Testing:
Genetic testing is a tool that is used in medicine to determine how well someone metabolizes medications. This is done by examining the expressed alleles (a variation/version of specific genes) in a person's genetic sequence and what specific pathways in the liver are operating correctly.
This service is recommended for anyone who has been struggling to find medications that provide benefits. Perhaps you have had several medications that do not seem to produce the desired outcome, or you will find relief with medications for several months and then they stop working; genetic testing can be a useful tool to help guide the next medication decision and possibly uncover reasons for the medication failures.
It is important to note, that genetic testing is more of a guide than a direct map. It will help you and your provider with your treatment decisions but is not able to tell you specifically what medications will and will not work for you.
Recommended For:
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Anyone struggling to find medications that provide benefit.
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Clients whose medications seem to provide relief for several months and then cease to provide benefit.
Qualified Providers at Red Sands:
More about Genetic Testing
How & where is it Administered
This test is a buccal (cheek) swab, meaning that any of our staff can perform and prepare it for the lab. However, it will most likely be the medical assistant or one of the providers. Your provider will review the results and discuss them with you.
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The buccal swab is performed in a private setting and prepared for the lab at the office. Once the results are returned, you will discuss them with your provider.
What to Expect
Regardless of what the test results show you will most likely find interesting information about how you metabolize different categories of medications, not just psychiatric ones. Testing can be a very powerful care tool and can be quite eye-opening. Feel free to ask any questions regarding your results. Remember, the only silly question is the one you don't ask.
