Redmond's Genelex Corp. has been doing DNA testing for years. Now it's offering a test you can do at home to see if your genes will allow your body to process certain medications.

"A high percentage of the population has defects in these enzyme processing systems, and don't process the drugs as expected," says Howard Coleman, Genelex founder.

Those drug reactions can range from simple side effects like diarrhea to life-threatening drug reactions. In some cases it means the drugs don't work for the patient at all.

It's Easy

The test is easy. Four swabs rubbed against the cheek gather genetic material. After the swabs dry, you pack them back in an envelope and send it off to the Genelex lab in Redmond.

Right now the processing to get the genetic read-out takes 10 days, but new equipment the company is installing should cut that to a matter of days.

If you're a poor metabolizer it can affect how you respond to everything from allergy medications like Claritan and Allegra to depression medications such as Prozac and Zoloft. The test can screen for how you'll respond to more than a third of all prescription drugs.

"I think it's inevitable that the physicians will start using this information," says Coleman.

The genetic testing isn't cheap. Testing for two critical genes is about $250. The company says new, faster equipment could bring down the cost.

For More Information:

www.healthanddna.com