Piloting end-to-end genomic testing
We worked with a local diagnostics company to design and deliver a real-world pharmacogenomic testing pathway for its employees, helping people understand how their genetic results could inform future prescribing.
The challenge
Pharmacogenomic testing can help make prescribing safer and more personalised. Delivering it successfully requires more than a laboratory test. People need a simple way to order a test, provide a sample, understand their results and know how those results could be used in future care.
Genedrive, a Manchester-based diagnostics company, wanted to offer pharmacogenomic testing as an employee benefit and explore how a consumer-facing testing pathway could work in practice.
What we did
We designed and delivered an end-to-end testing pathway, from digital onboarding and test ordering through to data processing and return of personalised results.
The programme tested 35 employees across seven key pharmacogenomic genes, covering prescribing guidance for 39 commonly used medicines. Results were returned through a secure digital account, with clear information to help people understand what their results could mean for future treatment decisions.
We used an iterative co-design approach throughout the project, including one in-person workshop and two virtual workshops before go-live, followed by two further workshops after launch. This helped us refine the user journey, improve the results experience and understand what people need from a digital pharmacogenomic testing service.
The impact
The project showed how pharmacogenomic testing can be delivered as a practical, user-centred service.
It helped Genedrive provide employees with personalised prescribing information, while also giving us valuable real-world learning about digital test ordering, sample collection, laboratory workflows, results interpretation and user experience.
Why it matters
This project reflects the kind of work Fava was created to do: making genomics usable in everyday healthcare by connecting testing, interpretation and results delivery in a way that is clear, safe and practical for the people who need it.