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- Pharmacogenetics examines inherited DNA variants that can affect the action, breakdown or safety of specific medicines.
- A result does not apply to ‘all medicines’. Each gene–medicine combination has its own evidence and recommendations.
- A genotype can be translated into an expected phenotype, such as slow, normal or ultrarapid metabolism, but these categories are not the same for every enzyme.
- Other medicines and illnesses can change the behaviour predicted from genetics. This is sometimes called phenoconversion.
- The result supports shared decision-making and does not replace a medical diagnosis, medicine safety checks or follow-up.
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