Consent and privacy in pharmacogenetic testing

The clinical use of pharmacogenetic drugs will require that a sample of a p atient's DNA be tested before a drug is prescribed. Although pharmacogeneti c tests pose fewer risks than genetic tests for disease mutations, they mig ht still reveal personal information that could be used adversely to a pati ent's interests. Informed consent and privacy of pharmacogenetic test resul ts may be essential in most clinical uses of pharmacogenetic drugs.