BANGKOK, 8 June 2012 – The Public Health Ministry has brought in new Pharmacogenomics technology or genetic testing, which will be used to prevent drug allergy among Stevens Johnson Syndrome patients.
Deputy Public Health Minister Surawit Khonsomboon said the new technology in genetic testing will help prevent patients with allergies to carbamazepine, allopurinol, and abacavir from the drugs. He stated that this technique will prevent those patients from severe drug reactions or Stevens Johnson Syndrome.
Most patients with the syndrome develop severe skin burn, painful red or purplish rash that spreads and blisters, which are the result of drug allergy. Some eventually die from this severe drug reaction.
The technique is conducted by testing blood or buccal mucosaof of a patient. The analysis takes five days. The test costs 1,000 baht each. The service is now available nationwide.
