Pharmacogenetic testing in the United Kingdom genetics and immunogenetics laboratories

Aim: For certain drugs, pharmacogenetic tests can reduce adverse drug reactions and improve treatment efficacy. However, the adoption of pharmacogenetics into clinical practice has been relatively slow. One potential barrier is the capacity of laboratories to meet the demands of a clinical pharmacogenetic service. We aimed to establish the range, capacity to deliver, and demand for germline pharmacogenetic testing in the United Kingdom and Ireland, through an e-survey of 34 molecular genetics and 28 histocompatibility and immunogenetics (H&I) laboratories. Results: Thirty-five percent of molecular genetics laboratories and 54% of H&I laboratories responded to the survey. The majority of H&I laboratories (93%) offered pharmacogenetic testing, whereas only one molecular genetics laboratory provided a pharmacogenetic service. HLA-B*5701 was most commonly tested to identify those at risk of abacavir hypersensitivity among patients with HIV. A number of barriers to testing were identified, including lack of cl...