The recent US FDA decision to include information about pharmacogenomic (PGx) testing on the warfarin package insert accelerates the nascent interest in this area among clinical labo-ratorians. PGx testing for genetic variability that can affect treatment response is a key player in implementing personalized medicine. In recent years, many have speculated how and when the choice and dosage of drugs for patient care would be affected, or even driven, by testing for genetic variants [1,2]. Interest in this area has grown rapidly, spurred on by studies showing association, if not causality, between certain mutations and/or single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and adverse drug reactions or likelihood of efficacy. Clinical laboratories, especially in academic medical centers, are uniquely suited for a role in identifying and implementing PGx assays in collaboration with pharmacists, human geneticists, clinical care providers and researchers. It is in these multidisciplinary settings that the greatest strides in PGx are likely to be made.
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