Challenges of development and implementation of point of care pharmacogenetic testing

Just as technology was the underlying driver of the sequencing of the human genome and subsequent generation of volumes of genome sequence data from healthy and affected individuals, animal, plant, and microbial species alike, so too will technology revolutionize diagnostic testing. One area of intense interest is the use of genetic data to inform decisions regarding drug selection and drug dosing, known as pharmacogenetic (PGx) testing, to improve likelihood of successful treatment outcomes with minimal risks.

This commentary will provide an overview of implementation research of PGx testing, the benefits of point-of-care (POC) testing and overview of POC testing platforms, available PGx tests, and barriers and facilitators to the development and integration of POC-PGx testing into clinical settings. Sources include the published literature, and databases from the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services, Food and Drug Administration. Expert commentary: The utilization of POC PGx testing may enable more routine test use, but the development and implementation of such tests will face some barriers before personalized medicine is available to every patient. In particular, provider training, availability of clinical decision supports, and connectivity will be key areas to facilitate routine use.