TPNUQ genotyping assay
Answers from the Lab
Mayo Clinic Laboratories’ TPNUQ genotyping assay is an innovative evaluation that examines two genes with known associations to thiopurine metabolism. In this test specific episode of the "Answers From the Lab" podcast, Ann Moyer, M.D., Ph.D., explains how TPNUQ, when used in combination with enzyme activity testing, provides insight on a patient’s risk for thiopurine toxicity.
“It’s really important to do this testing before (patients) are actually prescribed that first dose of their medication,” Dr. Moyer says. “It has been included in the FDA label to test for both TPMT and NUDT15 prior to starting a thiopurine because we know that these drugs can be very toxic to those individuals that have reduced metabolism.”
TPNUQ’s ability to detect for variations in two genes enables insights for more patients, says Dr. Moyer. “If a patient happens to have an NUDT15 variant and not a TPMT variant, we used to just miss them. So, especially since we're in the United States and we've got a lot of population diversity, I think it's really important to include both TPMT and NUDT15 together, because that's the best way to predict which patients are at risk of toxicity.”
Listen to learn more about how TPNUQ can help clarify patients’ ability to metabolize thiopurines and optimize outcomes.
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Multiple genotype tests can be performed on a single specimen after a single extraction. See Multiple Genotype Test List for a list of tests that can be ordered together.
Submit only 1 of the following specimens:
Specimen Type: Whole blood
Container/Tube: Lavender top (EDTA)
Specimen Volume: 3 mL
Collection Instructions:
Specimen Stability Information: Ambient (preferred) 9 days/Refrigerated 30 days
Specimen Type: Saliva
Patient Preparation: Patient should not eat, drink, smoke, or chew gum 30 minutes prior to collection.
Supplies: Saliva Swab Collection Kit (T786)
Specimen Volume: 1 Swab
Collection Instructions: Collect and send specimen per kit instructions.
Specimen Stability Information: Ambient 30 days
Specimen Type: Extracted DNA
Container/Tube: 2-mL screw top tube
Specimen Volume: 100 mcL
Collection Instructions:
Specimen Stability Information: Frozen (preferred)/Ambient/Refrigerated