Pharmacogenomics is the study of how your genes can affect your body's response to, and interaction with, some medications. Pharmacogenomics testing is a type of genetic test, and it's a tool your healthcare provider may use to identify the right medication for you.
Many factors affect how you respond to medication, including:
Age
Illness or organ dysfunction, especially kidney or liver function
Food interactions
Genetics
Other medications
Race and ethnicity
Sex
Smoking and alcohol use
Your healthcare provider may order pharmacogenomic testing to guide your medication use for several reasons, including to:
Identify a medication or dose most likely to work for you before you take it
Avoid or prevent serious side effects related to certain medications
Adjust the dose of a current medication or recommend a different medication
Pharmacogenomic testing does not apply to all medications, address all drug side effects or drug allergies, or explain drug-drug interactions or drug-food interactions.