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Features and Benefits

If you or an eligible dependent are concerned about or currently experiencing problems with a medication, a drug compatibility testDisclaimer1 could help.

What is a drug compatibility test?

When it comes to drug treatment, one size does not always fit all. In Canada, there are approximately 200,000 severe adverse drug reactions every yearDisclaimer2.

  • Genetic factors can account for up to 95% of individual variation in drug responseDisclaimer3.
  • More than 1 in 5 Canadians live with a chronic illnessDisclaimer4, but many are not being prescribed the right drug.

A drug compatibility test checks for the presence of genetic markers to help predict what medications are the safest to prescribe for an individual. The test is non-invasive and requires only a simple cheek swab that takes less than five minutes to do.

How can the test help me?

Once the test is complete, you will receive a report with clinically validated drug and dosing recommendations for the most commonly prescribed drugs. The report is also available to your doctor, who can then prescribe the correct dose of the right drug, reducing the chances of an adverse reaction or harmful side-effects.

Which drugs are eligible for testing?

Testing is available for drugs used to support mental health, chronic pain, and neurological conditions. Speak with a pharmacist at Personalized Prescribing Inc. to see if this test is right for you. The drugs that Personalized Prescribing Inc. provide recommendations for can be found on their searchable Drug List.

Are my results confidential?

Yes. Your information will never be shared with anyone—not your employer, insurance company or the government.

What is the cost?

If you are currently on or planning to start a drug for mental illness, the cost of the test may be covered by your Extended Health Coverage, subject to plan design (e.g. coinsurance and deductible). If you are on a disability claim due to a mental health condition, and are deemed eligible for a test, there is no cost to you.

We have partnered with Personalized Prescribing Inc. to provide you with access to the test at a preferred price. All plan members will save 20% off the full market price of the test.

Want to Know More?

To learn more, please contact Personalized Prescribing Inc.

Call 1-844-943-0210
Visit website

By providing access to this test, RBC Insurance is not giving medical advice to change drugs. The test results are provided to help you and your physicians make decisions about your prescription medications.
Adverse drug events costly to health care system: Vancouver Coastal Health-UBC research, University of British Columbia press release, February 25, 2011, accessed August 9, 2016 from http://cpnds.ubc.ca/faqs/adverse-drug-reactions
Kalow W, Tang BK, Endrenyi L. Hypothesis: comparisons of inter- and intra-individual variations can substitute for twin studies in drug research. Pharmacogenetics. 1998;8(4):283–289
How healthy are Canadians? Government of Canada, 2017
The test is not currently used for biologic drugs, which are specialized drugs derived from living cells to treat many chronic conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis and cancer.