Here’s a short video showing how to collect your sample.
Please do not eat, drink, or smoke for 30 to 60 minutes before collecting the cheek swab sample. Best results are achieved when the sample is collected first thing in the morning before brushing teeth.
The DNA sample is preserved in the liquid in the tube. The sample is tolerant of hot and cold and does not need refrigeration.
Generally, it is best to collect and return your sample to the lab as soon as possible. Therefore, we ask that you send the sample to the laboratory within 90 days of receiving it. Beyond this period, we reserve the right to cancel your order without a refund if we are unable to contact you. After 90 days, you may contact us to continue your order. However, additional charges may apply if your sample tube or return shipping label has expired. Please get in touch with us if you need extra time to return your sample.
More insurers now cover pharmacogenetic testing such as Pillcheck. To find out more about coverage and reimbursement, see our reimbursement page. Please note, Pillcheck does not submit claims on your behalf.
Although Pillcheck is a comprehensive pharmacogenetic test, not all medications are listed on the report, even ones you may currently be taking. This is because not all drugs can be assessed by pharmacogenetics, or there is not enough clinical information yet to report on certain medications. In general, pharmacogenetic (PGx) tests like Pillcheck assess genes that influence the metabolism of drugs in the liver. Pillcheck follows pharmacogenetic clinical recommendations provided by regulatory and clinical bodies, such as Health Canada, the FDA, EMA and CPIC.
At Pillcheck, we only report medications that have:
- A high level of clinical evidence between a known genetic variation, metabolism and predicted response (established through peer-reviewed science)
- Actionable prescribing guidelines – this means that there is established medical advice for modifying dosage based on the metabolizer status for a particular gene.
If a medication has a “red” alert, it does not necessarily mean that you need to stop taking it. It simply means that you have a higher risk of an altered response. Alternative treatment or non-standard dosage may be warranted.
DO NOT CHANGE ANY MEDICATIONS OR DOSAGE PRIOR TO CONSULTING YOUR PHYSICIAN OR PHARMACIST, WHO SHOULD DETERMINE AN APPROPRIATE DOSE. Please note that this report is intended for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice.
It’s possible that your report will indicate no issues with any of the medications you’re taking (for example, they’re all in the Green category), yet you may still feel you are having issues. Other factors may be involved in how you respond to medications (such as your diet, lifestyle, liver and kidney function, allergies, and other medical conditions). Your doctor is the best person to discuss this with. Other genetic variations that are not yet identified may potentially affect your drug response. If you have questions or concerns regarding your Pillcheck report, please contact the pharmacist who reviewed your medications.
Pharmacogenetic testing, like Pillcheck, can predict your response and risk of side effects based on your drug metabolism. It can help rule out metabolism issues, but it is not an allergy test and does not assess immune response. This blog provides more information on the difference between drug allergy and drug intolerance. Please consult your doctor or pharmacist if you suspect you may have a drug allergy.
The Pillcheck test cannot assess your response to vaccines for Covid or other illnesses. Pillcheck predicts how your body metabolizes many other types of medications and can predict your risk of side effects or certain medications being ineffective for you based on genetic factors. It does not assess immune response or allergic reactions to drugs.
Share Online
You can share your Pillcheck information – including your Medical Profile, interactive Results, and Pharmacist Opinion Letter – with any healthcare provider of your choice.
- Look for the Share tab in your Pillcheck account. Indicate your doctor’s name and email. Select how long your results will be accessible to them. Choose a time span that fits with your next appointment or a bit longer.
- Once you proceed with Share, the doctor will receive an email with a secure passcode to view your Pillcheck results.
- You will see when your results were accessed and the remaining time for share expiration. You can revoke access at any time.
- If you manage Pillcheck accounts for others, switch the account view (by clicking the name in the upper right corner) and proceed with sharing results for this individual.
Share by fax
If you do not have an email address for your healthcare provider, we can fax a copy of your Pharmacist Opinion Letter. Please email us at support@pillcheck.ca with your request, including your date of birth, healthcare provider’s name, phone and fax number.
Bring a copy
Take your Pharmacist Opinion Letter to your doctor or pharmacist. You can also print the pages of relevant medications from your Pillcheck Report to bring to your doctor.
A Pillcheck analysis is good for your lifetime and is updated annually with new information and medications.
- We’ll update your Pillcheck report as new information on medications become available.
- We’ll let you know by email when your report is updated.
- Updates are made 1-2 times per year for as long as we can provide new information based on the data analyzed from your original Pillcheck sample.
Note that your Pharmacist Opinion Letter will not be updated automatically. If your health situation changes, contact us to find out if a new pharmacist review and opinion letter would be helpful to your health concerns. Ordering a new medication review and Pharmacist Opinion Letter will require an additional fee.
The Pillcheck service includes one Pharmacist Opinion Letter written when your initial Pillcheck test results are generated. If your health situation changes, contact us to find out if a new pharmacist review and opinion letter would be helpful to your health concerns. Ordering a new medication review and Pharmacist Opinion Letter will require an additional fee of $75 + tax (CAD).
Update your profile information in account Settings. Contact us if you:
- need to change the email address for your Pillcheck account login
- are a custodian for a family member’s Pillcheck and would like to set up a direct access account for them
- have any other account questions
