Frequently Asked Questions

 

 

What is personalized medicine?

Personalized medicine is the practice of taking the entire person into account when assessing one's health, which is based on many factors, including: genetics, diet, exercise, family history, current medications, and environment. It tailors your treatment to your unique DNA, conditions, medications and lifestyle. Personalized medicine focuses on prevention at many levels: preventing disease, poor or harmful responses to medications, and even death.

 

How does this test work?

This test scans your DNA and identifies changes that are known to affect how you may react to certain medications. This test also offers a comprehensive view of the safety of your medications by taking into account many other factors, including your other medications, vitamins or supplements, and some lifestyle factors.

 

How is my data kept secure?

Many actions are taken to keep your data secure. Your saliva, DNA, and subsequent data are tracked using unique bar codes, rather than your name. This means any personally-identifying information has been stripped from your sample. Coriell Life Sciences is HIPAA-compliant in all its processes. Also, your information will not be shared with the TRS staff.

 

How long until I receive my results?

When we receive your saliva sample, it typically takes about 1-2 weeks to process and analyze your DNA. After that, your results will be forwarded to the Know Your Rx Coalition, a group of pharmacists who work with TRS retirees, to review your current medications and potential changes. This can take about 1-2 weeks to finalize with you and your doctor. Overall, the entire process should take less than 4 weeks.

 

What is pharmacogenomics?

Pharmacogenomics is the study of how genes affect a person’s response to drugs.

 

What is the Know Your Rx Coalition?

The Know Your Rx Coalition is a team of specialized pharmacists who help TRS retirees understand their prescription benefits through identifying potential drug interactions, adverse effects, lower cost alternatives and general medication information.

 

What is Coriell Life Sciences?

Coriell Life Sciences is a recognized leader in the field of pharmacogenomics for its unique genomic services. We have developed software to help you and your physicians and pharmacists optimize your prescription drug therapy in a safe, effective, and cost-effective manner.

 

Will this test give me information about my ancestry?

No, this DNA test will not report any ancestry information. This DNA test will only provide information about how your genes affect how you respond to specific medications.

 

Will this test tell me if I am going to get cancer?

No, this DNA test will not be used to determine your likelihood of developing diseases.

 

How can this test save me money?

This test may determine that an alternative drug therapy is better suited for you, which may cost less. However, there may be times that the appropriately recommended drug therapy could be more costly.

 

Why do you need my email address?

Your email address may be used to ask about your experience with this new benefit and the enrollment process.

 

Can my spouse participate?

This benefit is only for retirees and their dependents who are currently Medicare eligible and enrolled in the TRS Medicare Eligible Health Plan (MEHP).

 

Why is TRS sponsoring this new benefit?

TRS is committed to providing you with the very best health care available. Today, that means taking a “Personalized Medicine” approach to tailor your treatment to your unique DNA, conditions, medications and lifestyle.  This new benefit will empower you and your doctors with genetic information that may improve which medications you are prescribed.  These results may reduce adverse drug reactions and unnecessary side effects and improve how you feel every day.

 

Will this test cost me money?

Taking the test is free.  However, the information obtained from the test could result in a different drug therapy recommendation which could be more costly.