Pharmacogenetics Newsletter

Volume 1, Issue 11, 11/11/2009

Question

What are some common lab tests or techniques used for determining single nucleotide genetic polymorphisms (SNPs) that can facilitate patient specific drug therapy?

Answer

Periodically, the editorial board will release an issue that explains general principles or terms that all clinicians should be familiar with, as they are frequently encountered in clinical practice.  They are also concepts built upon in many of the newsletters.  As the field of pharmacogenetics continues to evolve into clinical practice, clinicians should have a basic understanding of the various tools that are currently being used to determine a patient's genotype and for the presence of a genetic polymorphism, which can influence the pharmacological response exerted by a particular drug.

When determining if a patient has a genetic polymorphism, or variation from the general population, a number of methods can now be done to help identify their presence.  This is especially becoming useful in understanding the variations in response to pharmacologic agents.  Most genetic polymorphisms are known as single nucleotide genetic polymorphisms (SNPs).(1)  Since these are very small changes in the genetic sequence or code, special techniques for their identification are important.... 

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