Product information
Pillcheck covers over 70% of prescription drugs routinely used to treat a wide range of medical conditions. Because a person’s genetics don’t change over time, Pillcheck can be referenced throughout life, whenever new medications are considered. Below are the number of drugs reported by therapeutic area.
| Therapeutic area | # drugs |
|---|---|
| Analgesics | 25 |
| Antibacterials | 3 |
| Antiemetics | 9 |
| Antifungals | 4 |
| Antivirals | 10 |
| Cardiovascular | 49 |
| Dermatology and Dental | 2 |
| Endocrinology | 1 |
| Gastroenterology | 7 |
| Therapeutic area (cont.) | # drugs |
|---|---|
| Gynecology | 6 |
| Hematology | 10 |
| Immune Therapy | 10 |
| Neurology | 19 |
| Oncology | 29 |
| Psychiatry | 71 |
| Pulmonology | 4 |
| Rheumatology | 6 |
| Urology | 5 |
The patient collects a DNA sample at home using a simple, non-invasive cheek swab and mails it to the lab via a prepaid return envelope.
Pillcheck samples are currently processed at the Dynacare lab in Laval, Quebec. This lab has the following accreditations:
- ISO 15189: International accreditation for medical laboratories
- COLA: COLA is a medical lab accreditation demonstrating compliance with CLIA requirements (US federal regulations governing the operation of medical laboratories). Of note, CLIA is an American certification needed only for serving USA customers, and CLIA does not apply in Canada.
Several clinical diagnostic laboratories in the USA, Canada, and the EU independently validated the Pillcheck bioinformatics system.
The Pillcheck genotyping panel is optimized to maximize sensitivity and specificity, and to ensure accurate results for the ethnically diverse population in Canada by including multiple ethnic-specific alleles.
| Gene | Alleles tested |
|---|---|
| ABCG2 | c.421C>A, c.376C>T |
| ADRB2 | rs1042713 G/A |
| CYP1A2 | *1E, *1F, *1J, *1K, *6, *7, *8, *15 |
| CYP2B6 | *2, *5, *6, *7, *8, *13, *18, *22, *34 |
| CYP2C19 | *2, *3, *4, *6, *8, *10, *17 |
| CYP2C8 | *2, *3, *4 |
| CYP2C9 | *2, *3, *5, *6, *8, *9, *11, *12, *27 |
| CYP2D6 | *3, *4, *5, *6, *7, *9, *10, *12, *17, *29, *41, *64, *69, *82, *109 |
| CYP3A4 | *3, *6, *11, *12, *16, *17, *18, *19, *22 |
| CYP3A5 | *2, *3, *6, *7 |
| DPYD | *2A, *4, *5, *6, *7, *8, *9A, *9B, *10, *11, *13, c.2846A>T, HapB3, c.557A>G, c.61C>T |
| F2 | rs1799963 G/A |
| F5 | rs6025 C/T |
| G6PD | WT, Mediterranean |
| NAT2 | *4, *5A, *5B, *5E, *5P, *6A, *6C, *7C |
| NUDT15 | *2, *5 |
| OPRM1 | rs1799971 (A118G) A/G |
| SLCO1B1 | *1B, *5, *9, *15, *31 |
| TPMT | *2, *3A, *8 |
| UGT1A1 | *6, *27, *80 |
| UGT2B15 | rs1902023 A/C |
| VKORC1 | rs9923231 C/T |
Pillcheck includes a personalized report that predicts drug response to all medications covered by the test, based on the individual’s genetic profile.
The service also includes a review of the patient’s medications by a clinical pharmacist who is specially trained in pharmacogenetics. The pharmacist produces a Pharmacist Opinion Letter (POL), which provides individuals and their physicians with a summary of key findings of the test along with recommendations on dose adjustment or drug switch when warranted.
Many insurance plans cover Pillcheck under extended healthcare benefits. Patients may be required to submit a physician requisition or prescription for Pillcheck in order to be eligible for reimbursement. Patients should check with their plan for more details about eligibility and coverage requirements. Pillcheck does not currently adjudicate billings and reimbursement on behalf of the patient.
Pillcheck reporting follows established genetics-based prescribing guidelines and drug labels from the following sources:
| Regulatory bodies | International consortia |
|---|---|
| Food and Drug Administration (FDA) | Clinical Pharmacogenetics Implementation Consortium (CPIC) |
| Health Canada (HCSC) | Dutch Pharmacogenetics Working Group (DPWG) |
| European Medicines Agency (EMA) | |
| SwissMedic |
Access up-to-date guidelines
Pillcheck results are dynamic, not static, and are accessible through an interactive online viewer. Results are updated over time to reflect the latest PGx guidelines and new drugs as they can be added. A PDF copy of results is also available for download. See how patients and prescribers use Pillcheck results.