Who We Are and What We Do
Pathway Genomics is dedicated to empowering physicians and their patients with secure, comprehensive, credible, leading-edge and affordable personal genomic information. Our on-site laboratory is federally CLIA (Clinical Laboratory Improvements Amendments) certified, as well as California state-licensed. By providing physicians with another tool to help personalize the delivery of care, comprehensive genetic testing holds the promise of providing better and more individualized care at a lower cost when compared to traditional genetic testing.
Because the reports we provide are meant to be educational and informative, the practical information within the reports provides people with a foundation to begin, or continue, a conversation with their medical providers. The information in our reports is not meant to frighten or intimidate people into making hasty decisions about their health, but rather to strengthen the patient-physician relationship through the availability of genetic information. Moreover, Pathway's personal genetic reports practically inform and educate people about their propensity for a certain health condition, drug (medication) response, or whether a recessive genetic condition could be passed to future children. Read the full list of conditions included in our reports.
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Pathway Can Empower Physicians and Patients
The value of knowing about one’s genetic makeup is empowering. When a person and his or her physician blend this information with traditional health care practices, it can become an influential tool leading to a healthier life. Traditionally speaking, there is a common belief that lifestyle (diet, exercise and other behavior choices), family history and the environment influence a person’s health. Scientific advances have allowed us to add genetics as a new category in addition to these commonly used variables. Although physicians have long known that individual differences in genetic makeup contribute to differences in health outcomes, until now it was not easy to obtain that information. Technological advances in obtaining large amounts of genetic information easily and inexpensively can now be combined with scientific advances in the interpretation of genetic information, enabling individuals and their physicians to take advantage of these developments. Personal genetic testing should be seen for what it is: informative and educational. In short, personal genetic testing is another tool that, with guidance from his or her physician, a person can use to make healthier and more informed medical decisions.
“We strive to give clients and their healthcare providers valid and useful information to help with modifying behavior towards total wellness.”
Michael Nova, M.D. Chief Medical officer, Pathway GenomicsHealth Conditions Insight
As a physician, you are always striving with your patients to encourage healthy living, working with your patients to be proactive about maintaining their present health as a means of ensuring their future health. The goal of our Health Conditions Insight Report is to provide you and your patient with information about how your patient’s unique genetic profile may increase his or her risk for certain conditions and diseases of adult life. Armed with this information, you and your patient can work together to determine a personalized health optimization plan.
In the study, "The Behavioral Response to Personalized Genetic Information: Will Genetic Risk Profiles Motivate Individuals and Families to Choose More Healthful Behaviors?," published March 2010 in the Annual Review of Public Health , researchers at the National Human Genome Research Institute have suggested that genetic information may be more motivational in encouraging healthful behavior, compared to other risk assessments and general advice.
We know that an individual genetic profile is only one factor among many that contribute to the risk of disease. For most adult-onset diseases, where there are many causative factors, genetic factors provide risk information only. While individuals with a known genetic risk for a disease may never get that disease, our hope is that by knowing what these genetic risk factors are, an individual, in concert with his or her physician, can develop a disease prevention and screening strategy. Simply stated, the genetic information reported by Pathway is not deterministic, and should be viewed in the same manner as other risk factors, such as high cholesterol or blood pressure.
Some of the health conditions we test the propensity for include late onset Alzheimer’s disease, type 1 and type 2 diabetes, female breast cancer, hypertension, melanoma, myocardial infarction, Parkinson’s disease and prostate cancer. See the complete list of health conditions covered by Health Conditions Insight. Read more about this service.
Pathway's Health Conditions Insight provides information on a patient's genetic propensity for complex diseases, which are caused by a combination of genetic, environmental and lifestyle factors.
Drug Response (Medication) Insight
The Drug Response (Medication) Insight Report provides you and your patient with information about whether your patient’s unique genetic profile is associated with an increased likelihood of having an atypical response to nine different types of medications. Depending on the particular drug, these atypical responses might require change in dosing regimen, predict likelihood of toxicity and/or indicate that the drug should not be used. Knowing in advance how a patient’s unique genetic profile may interact with medications you may need to prescribe is becoming an increasingly important aspect of medical care.
This genetic report will provide you and your patients with results to identify if certain medications might be more or less effective based on an individual's unique genetics. For example, genotyping of variants in CYP2C9 and VKORC1 can be used to predict if an individual should start with a higher or lower initial dose of warfarin (Coumadin), potentially saving critical time in reaching the proper dosage. The Medco-Mayo Warfarin Effectiveness Study, published in the April 2010 edition of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, has shown that the use of genotyping information can reduce the risk of hospitalization due to the inappropriate dosage of warfarin. Pathway's Drug Response (Medication) Insight Report can act as an exceptionally powerful tool in proactively recognizing potentially negative responses of a particular medication. The medications examined include warfarin (Coumadin), caffeine, clopidogrel (sold under brand names such as Plavix, Clopilet, and Ceruvin), as well as many others. Read more about this service.
Pre-Pregnancy Planning Insight
Choosing to have a child is one of the most important decisions in a person’s life, and it is vital for prospective parents to be equipped with critical information regarding their own genetics when considering conception. In contrast with traditional genetic testing, Pathway's extended carrier status screening provides you and your patients with information about carrier status for known recessive mutations that they may pass to their children. While genetic testing for some recessive diseases has been around for a long time, advancements in science, medicine and laboratory technology now make it possible to analyze an even larger number of recessive mutations for prospective parents using only a saliva sample. Since many of these markers can exist silently for generations or get lost in one's knowledge of family history, a broad screen can be a valuable tool in preventing diseases. Currently, Pathway’s Pre-Pregnancy Planning Insight tests for known mutations causing 70+ recessive genetic conditions. Read more about this service.
Physician Support
Pathway is committed to making genetic testing a simple process, starting with the collection of the patient's saliva sample through the delivery of test results to the patient and physician. With our expert panel of physicians and geneticists, Pathway offers pre- and post-testing assistance and guidance to physicians and their patients at no charge. Our genetic counselors and medical professionals are available to physicians in a number of ways. Whether a physician or staff member is in need of assistance with clinical information, report interpretation or general customer service, our staff is on-call to assist. Our counseling service is fully staffed by qualified counselors who are Board-eligible or -certified by the American Board of Genetic Counseling. All our genetic counselors are under the supervision of our on-staff medical doctors.
As advances in the field of genomic research develop, we feel that it is paramount to make this information available to our customers. Our continuing methods of opening a channel of communication between our research team, scientists, medical professionals, counselors and our customers grant us the ability to facilitate our essential core value: to educate and inform our customers regarding their health and wellness. Register Now
“We embrace the opportunity to discuss with our customers and their medical providers what to expect in the reports, the language used in our reports and the possible next steps after receiving their report.”
Emily Enns, M.S. Genetic Counselor, Pathway GenomicsMaintaining Medical Responsibility
Before being delivered to the customer, each report is crosschecked and validated for accuracy by our on-staff geneticists and physicians. Our reports reflect the best available genetic evidence for determining the propensity towards, for example, a particular health condition or drug (medication) response. Pathway’s Comprehensive Genotyping methods, which are used for each sample, are highly accurate. This methodology incorporates a chip that is capable of detecting thousands of genetic markers and validated across multiple platforms. We believe in communicating quality and accurate results and, because of this deep belief, we practice responsible reporting on all our samples.
In the spirit of maintaining a connection with advancements in medicine and science, along with our research and science team, Pathway understands the value of educational institutions that contribute to pioneering breakthroughs in scientific research and clinical care. This is why we continue to provide authoritative supportive content from Harvard Health Publications, a division of Harvard Medical School. Critically acclaimed and world-renowned, Harvard Health Publications is powered by the knowledge and eminence of Harvard’s 10,000 faculty physicians and its globally recognized affiliated hospitals. In addition, Pathway Genomics is recommended by both the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM).
“Upholding our dedication to the well-being and education of our customers, we are devoted to assisting physicians by providing current and accurate information that is developed and peer-reviewed by physicians and geneticists. All of the information we report is safe, secure and private, and is provided in a very timely manner. In addition, our genetic counseling service is available to existing and potential customers to answer any questions they or their medical providers may have.”
Linda Wasserman, M.D., Ph.D. Director of Clinical Genetics, Pathway GenomicsHow to Become Involved
Pathway Genomics embraces the opportunity to partner with individuals and organizations committed to the advancement of science and technology that gives people the tools needed to help live healthier lives. If you are interested in offering genetic testing services to your patients, the process is easy. Begin the physician registration process.