Pharmacogenomic Test

A pharmacogenomic test (PGx) - sometimes called a DNA medication check or drug-response genetic test - analyses a small saliva sample for variants in the genes that control how your body absorbs, breaks down, and clears medication. Knowing your pharmacogenomic profile helps your doctor pick the right drug at the right dose, with fewer side effects and less trial-and-error.

Our panel screens 112 medications across 14 therapy areas including mental health, pain relief, cholesterol, cardiovascular, ADHD, oncology, infection, and immune system drugs. Lab analysis is performed at Eurofins UK on Illumina pharmacogenomic array platforms - the same combination used by occupational-health programmes at major UK insurers. Your results stay valid for life because your DNA doesn't change.

What pharmacogenomics actually measures

Pharmacogenomic testing focuses on a small set of genes that code for drug-metabolising enzymes (mostly the cytochrome P450 family - CYP2D6, CYP2C19, CYP2C9, CYP3A4/5), drug transporters (SLCO1B1), and drug targets (e.g. VKORC1 for warfarin, HLA-B for several immunology and HIV drugs).

Variants in these genes group people into four broad metaboliser phenotypes:

• Poor metaboliser - the drug builds up in your body; standard doses cause side effects.
• Intermediate metaboliser - slower-than-average; you may need a lower dose.
• Normal metaboliser - standard dosing works as designed.
• Rapid / ultra-rapid metaboliser - the drug clears too quickly to be effective at the usual dose; you may need a higher dose, or a different drug.

For example, around 5-10% of people of European ancestry are CYP2D6 poor metabolisers - they cannot effectively convert codeine to its active form, so codeine works poorly for pain relief. Conversely, ultra-rapid CYP2D6 metabolisers convert codeine to morphine so quickly that standard doses can become dangerous. A simple saliva test tells you which group you're in before a clinical decision needs to be made.

Why Jeen Health (vs ordering it elsewhere)

• Same lab, same technology as the major UK reseller programmes (Eurofins UK, Illumina PGx arrays).
• Direct-to-consumer pricing - £210 for the test, GP appointment included if you need one.
• No pre-test counselling step - kit ships the day you order. Saliva collection at home, post the kit back, results in ~4 weeks.
• Lifetime-valid report - your genome doesn't change. Use the same report whenever your GP prescribes anything new from the panel.
• Independent, not insurer-tied - your results are not shared with health insurers in the UK.

The 112 medications we screen

Our PGx panel covers drugs across these therapy areas. Some drugs listed below are licensed in other jurisdictions but not the UK - they're included because the report follows international PGx standards.

Mental health (25 drugs) - Amitriptyline, Aripiprazole, Brexpiprazole, Bupropion, Citalopram, Clomipramine, Desipramine, Doxepin, Escitalopram, Fluoxetine, Fluvoxamine, Haloperidol, Imipramine, Mirtazapine, Moclobemide, Nortriptyline, Paroxetine, Perphenazine, Pimozide, Quetiapine, Risperidone, Sertraline, Thioridazine, Trimipramine, Venlafaxine, Vortioxetine, Zuclopenthixol.

Cancer (11 drugs) - Capecitabine, Cisplatin, Fluorouracil, Gefitinib, Imatinib, Irinotecan, Oxaliplatin, Rasburicase, Tamoxifen, Tegafur, Tioguanine.

Infection (12 drugs) - Abacavir, Atazanavir, Dapsone, Efavirenz, Flucloxacillin, Flucytosine, Nevirapine, Nitrofurantoin, Primaquine, Ribavirin, Tafenoquine, Voriconazole.

Pain relief (12 drugs) - Celecoxib, Codeine, Flurbiprofen, Hydrocodone, Ibuprofen, Lornoxicam, Meloxicam, Methadone, Oxycodone, Piroxicam, Tenoxicam, Tramadol.

Heart (9 drugs) - Acenocoumarol, Carvedilol, Clopidogrel, Flecainide, Mavacamten, Metoprolol, Phenprocoumon, Propafenone, Warfarin.

Cholesterol (7 drugs) - Atorvastatin, Fluvastatin, Lovastatin, Pitavastatin, Pravastatin, Rosuvastatin, Simvastatin.

Digestive system (8 drugs) - Dexlansoprazole, Esomeprazole, Lansoprazole, Omeprazole, Ondansetron, Pantoprazole, Rabeprazole, Tropisetron.

Immune system (6 drugs) - Azathioprine, Hydroxychloroquine, Mercaptopurine, Peg-interferon alfa 2a, Peg-interferon alfa 2b, Tacrolimus.

Nervous system (9 drugs) - Brivaracetam, Carbamazepine, Diazepam, Fosphenytoin, Oxcarbazepine, Phenytoin, Pitolisant, Siponimod, Tetrabenazine.

Diabetes (4 drugs) - Glibenclamide, Gliclazide, Glimepiride, Metformin.

Bone & joint (2 drugs) - Allopurinol, Pegloticase.

ADHD (1 drug) - Atomoxetine.

Chest (1 drug) - Dextromethorphan.

Other (3 drugs) - Eliglustat, Methylene Blue, Toluidine Blue.

What's included

• At-home saliva-collection kit - posted within 1–2 working days of order
• Lab analysis at Eurofins UK on Illumina PGx arrays
• Personalised digital report emailed to you in ~4 weeks
• Complimentary 30-minute GP video appointment when results land - book it from the report email if you want a clinician to walk you through any flagged medications

When NOT to take this test

A pharmacogenomic test is unsuitable for anyone whose DNA could be confused with a donor's. Specifically:

• You've had a liver or kidney transplant
• You've had a bone marrow or stem cell transplant
• You've received a blood transfusion in the last four weeks

The reason is biological: transplanted tissue and recently-transfused blood carry the donor's DNA, which can mix with your own in a saliva sample and confuse the result. After a blood transfusion, donor DNA is typically cleared within 4 weeks. After bone-marrow or solid-organ transplant, the mix is permanent - a different testing approach is needed (we can refer you to a specialist clinical-genetics service).

You'll be asked these three questions before you can complete checkout. If any answer is "yes", we'll cancel your order automatically - no payment taken - and email you with next steps.

How long do results last?

Forever. Your genome doesn't change, so the variants we report stay valid for life. Save your report - when your doctor next prescribes a drug from the panel, you can show it to them and they can adjust the choice or dose.

That said, interpretation evolves. New evidence is added to the international PGx databases (CPIC, DPWG) every year. Your report reflects the science as of the date it was issued; check back periodically with your GP if your prescription set changes substantially.

Regulatory & lab accreditation

Your saliva sample is destroyed after analysis. Your data is stored and processed in the UK and Europe.