Answers for your patients about GeneSight®
To support your patient discussions about GeneSight, we’ve put together a list of commonly asked patient questions and answers about the GeneSight test.
Your genes may affect the way medications work in your body—some medications could work better with your unique genetic profile and some medicines might not work well at all for you. Your genes also can affect how quickly your body breaks down (metabolizes) medicine and gets medicine into your bloodstream. For example, codeine can be an effective painkiller for some people. However, for about 10 percent of people, it has no effect whatsoever (Source: National Institutes of Health).
When a medication doesn’t work with your genes, you may not get the relief you need, and you may have additional unwanted side effects. By matching the medication to your genes, you have a much greater chance of getting on a medication that could help you.
The test is easy to administer and takes about five minutes. Your DNA is collected using a simple cheek swab. We will then send your sample to the Myriad Neuroscience clinical lab to be analyzed.
Once we receive your sample, we will complete the analysis and send a report to your healthcare provider within 36 hours.
(At your discretion) Yes, we will go over the GeneSight results together. On www.genesight.com, you can find a lot of helpful information explaining the GeneSight test.
The GeneSight report is one piece of information that I can use to create an individualized treatment plan for you. I’ll use the report to help guide me in selecting the medication or medications for you. With GeneSight, I can identify which medicines are more likely to be effective and less likely to have unwanted side effects based on your genetic make-up.
Not necessarily. Each person has a unique set of genes and genetic responses to medications. You may share genetic similarities with your relatives, but each of you has a different genetic makeup and metabolism. Your genes influence the way your body may respond to a specific medication. So a medication that works for your relative may not necessarily work for you.
No. Each person has a unique combination of genes that could affect how he or she may react to certain medications. You will need to have your own GeneSight test.
Yes. Your genetic information is private and protected through various federal laws including HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) and GINA (Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act), which ensure the security of your personal and genetic information.
GeneSight is reimbursed by a number of government and commercial insurance plans. In addition, Myriad Neuroscience has also developed the GeneSight Financial Assistance Program to help make GeneSight affordable for patients who qualify. Here is a GeneSight Patient Billing Guide (hand to patient). You can learn more at www.genesight.com or by calling the GeneSight Customer Service team at 866.757.9204 for assistance.