Becomes first U.S. drug store chain to offer Harmonyx service

A self-administered oral swab in the pharmacy provides the sample for the Harmonyx genetic test.

CAMP HILL, Pa. — Rite Aid Corp. has begun offering Harmonyx Diagnostics genetic testing for medications, making it the nation’s first drug chain to provide the service.

Rite Aid said Thursday that the self-administered oral swab test — available in all of its pharmacies, except in New York — helps patients determine the efficacy of their prescription medication based on their genetic makeup.

Patients can buy the test kit at any Rite Aid (except in New York). In the pharmacy, patients then swab inside their cheek, and then a Rite Aid pharmacist takes the sample and returns it to Harmonyx for processing. Harmonyx provides a state-licensed physician to review each patient’s test, and detailed results are sent to the pharmacist and the treating doctor. The results are received as soon as 24 hours after the laboratory receives the test, according to Rite Aid.

The drug chain said its pharmacists can help patients and physicians decide if a certain test is medically appropriate. Patients can go online to HarmonyxDiagnostics.com to find the nearest Rite Aid pharmacy that offers Harmonyx testing.

“We are committed to offering our customers unique and innovative products, services and programs that meet their individual wellness needs, and personalized medication therapy through genetic testing is a perfect example of such a service,” Jocelyn Konrad, executive vice president of pharmacy at Rite Aid, said in a statement.

“By offering Harmonyx genetic testing to our customers, we’re helping to ensure that the medication they are taking is the most effective medication to help them treat and manage their condition while avoiding unnecessary and potentially harmful side effects,” she explained.

Rite Aid said it’s currently offering genetic tests for three classes of medications, including drugs used to manage cardiac conditions, cholesterol and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The chain’s pharmacists are available to discuss the results with patients and their doctors to find the best medication choice based on the patient’s genetic makeup and other clinical factors.

Memphis, Tenn.-based Harmonyx said it uses an automated genotyping system to provide health care professionals fast, accurate results that help them determine the appropriate medication and dosing for each patient.

“Knowledge really is power, so the more people who are aware of the availability and accessibility of these genetic tests, the greater the impact we can have on the health of our communities,” stated Bob Bean, president and CEO of Harmonyx. “With our tests now being at nearly 4,000 Rite Aid locations, we have an opportunity to make a true difference in the lives of people by making sure that the medication they are taking is the right therapy for them.”