Whether it’s a jam-packed schedule, lack of transportation, COVID-19 restrictions, or limited access to appointments, it can be difficult to get into a doctor’s office.

No matter the reason, barriers like these can prevent patients from receiving proper mental healthcare – which may negatively impact other areas of a patient’s life. That’s why GeneSight at Home allows patients to take the test from the comfort and privacy of their own home.

With the easy-to-use sample collection kit, patients can fill out the required paperwork, swab the inside of their cheek to collect the sample, and ship it to the lab to be analyzed. The ordering clinician will receive a report that shows how their patient’s genes may affect outcomes with medications commonly prescribed to treat depression, anxiety, ADHD and other mental health conditions.

The convenience of GeneSight at Home

GeneSight at Home allows the patient to collect their sample on their own time and at their convenience, so it’s much easier to fit into a busy schedule.

Patients who work traditional 9-to-5 hours don’t have to worry about taking time off from work or finding an appointment during the often-limited evening hours. Parents can breathe easier knowing they won’t have to arrange childcare. For those who have physical limitations, limited access to transportation, or live in remote areas long distances from the nearest doctor’s office, GeneSight at Home may remove some of the biggest roadblocks.

Through the pandemic, telehealth has risen in popularity, with many people opting to receive care virtually via video or phone appointments so they didn’t have to leave the safety of their home.

“I see patients both in person and through telehealth appointments. Some of my patients live in different cities and some patients simply do not want to come to my office due to COVID restrictions,” said Caleb Whitenack, MD, psychiatrist at Mind Path Care Centers in North Carolina, who uses GeneSight at Home with his patients. “Now, with GeneSight’s Patient Collection Kit, having a kit sent directly to a patient to self-administer the test works seamlessly. They are pleased and appreciative they don’t have to leave their homes to do it.”

GeneSight at Home allows clinicians to be more efficient, saving time by not having to do the collection process themselves. This time savings could potentially allow them to see more patients throughout the day.

The GeneSight at Home collection kit

The GeneSight at Home collection kit includes clear, detailed instructions and everything the patient needs to take their own DNA sample and ship it to the GeneSight lab to be analyzed.

In the kit, patients will find the following items:

• Paperwork
  • Medical insurance information (which patients only need to complete if they did NOT email a copy of their insurance card)
  • Patient consent form
  • How our billing process works/financial information for the GeneSight test
• Collection kit
  • Cotton-tipped swabs (2)
  • DNA sample envelope (which must be filled out)
• Pre-paid return envelope

How to take the GeneSight test at home

When a clinician orders GeneSight at Home, the GeneSight sample collection packet is shipped directly to the patient’s home.

“[Patients] receive a packet with clear instructions for collecting their DNA via cheek swab, easy-to-complete patient information forms, and a pre-addressed and pre-paid envelope that they can drop off at any FedEx location,” said Dr. Whitenack.

Once the patient receives their kit, the process is easy and painless:

1. Gather information

Patients will read and sign the Patient Consent form, then place it in the prepaid return envelope.

Next, they choose how to provide their Medical Insurance Information. They can either complete the enclosed form and place it inside the prepaid Return Envelope, or they can email a photo of the front and back of their insurance card to support@genesight.com.

Then, they will fill out the DNA Sample Envelope with the date the sample is collected, their first and last name and date of birth.

2. Collect DNA with two simple cheek swabs

Following the instructions on the package, patients should tear open the sterile package and grab the first cotton swab by its plastic handle.

The patient will then rub the swab firmly up and down the inside of their right cheek ten times, and place the swab, cotton tip first, into the DNA Sample Envelope. The process should be repeated using the inside of the left cheek.

The patient should then seal the DNA sample envelope and place it in the return envelope.

3. Return your sample and paperwork

The patient should then assemble the return envelope with the following items:

1. Completed and signed patient consent form
2. Completed medical insurance information form (if needed)
3. DNA sample envelope, filled out with the patient information and with both cheek swabs enclosed. The sample envelope should be sealed.

The patient will seal their pre-paid FedEx return envelope. Patients can send back this envelope via FedEx Drop Box, at a FedEx location, or schedule a pickup by calling 1.800.GoFedEx.

The envelope will then arrive at the GeneSight lab, where our team of scientists and data analysts will extract and analyze the genetic information collected by the cheek swab to gain information on how the patient’s genes may affect their outcomes with 64 different medications commonly prescribed to treat depression, anxiety, ADHD and other mental health conditions.

In just a few days, clinicians will receive an electronic copy of GeneSight test report via a secure portal. The report provides your clinician with information about which medications may require dose adjustments, may be less likely to work, or may have an increased risk of side effects based on a patient’s genetic makeup.

The healthcare provider may schedule an appointment to review the results. The patient should ask for a copy of their report – either electronically or printed. Healthcare providers or patients who have questions about their report can contact our Medical Information team at medinfo@genesight.com or 855.891.9415.

If you are a patient interested in learning more about GeneSight at Home, visit https://genesight.com/genesight-at-home-for-patients/. For clinicians, please visit https://genesight.com/genesight-at-home/.

For more on removing barriers to treatment, check out these blog posts:

https://genesight.com/blog/patient/why-are-so-few-people-getting-treatment-for-depression/

https://genesight.com/blog/healthcare-provider/telemedicine-telepsychiatry-get-a-push/