Researchers from the University of Ottawa Heart Institute published the results of a bedside genetic test in The Lancet today. The study demonstrates one of the first point of care tests for personalized medicine. A simple cheek swab test performed by nurses at the patient’s bedside rapidly identifies a genetic variant known as CYP2C19*2. Cardiac stent patients with this variant are at risk of reacting poorly to standard antiplatelet therapy with Clopidogrel.
The genetic testing successfully protected all of the patients with the at-risk genetic variant from subsequent adverse events, while 30% of patients treated with standard therapy did not receive adequate protection.
Dr. Derek So, interventional cardiologist at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute and principal investigator of the RAPID GENE study, commented:
“For the first time in medicine, nurses were able to perform DNA testing at the patient’s bedside. This is a significant step towards the vision of personalized medicine.”
The genetic testing was done on the Spartan RX PCR machine developed by Spartan Bioscience, a sample-to-result point-of-care DNA testing system. The Spartan RX CYP2C19 has CE IVD Mark regulatory approval for Europe and other countries recognizing the CE IVD Mark. Spartan Bioscience is working towards FDA clearance in the United States.
Announcmeent: Spartan Bioscience announces publication in Lancet demonstrating clinical usefulness of world’s first bedside DNA test…
Abstract in The Lancet: Point-of-care genetic testing for personalisation of antiplatelet treatment (RAPID GENE): a prospective, randomised, proof-of-concept trial
Product page: Spartan RX
Flashback: World’s First Personal DNA Analyzer