The Food and Drug Administration has just approved a test to determine whether someone is genetically predisposed to opioid use disorder.
AvertD Test Overview
The test, called AvertD, uses DNA swabbed from a patient’s cheek to determine if they carry some combination of genetic variants that makes them more susceptible to opioid addiction.
FDA Recommendations and Limitations
According to the FDA, this new genetic test should prove helpful to physicians in determining whether patients preparing to undergo surgery are vulnerable to opioid addiction. The agency stresses this test is not intended for patients undergoing treatment for chronic pain. They also stress that the test should not be the sole determinant of risk.
The AvertD test is only available by prescription and can only be administered with the patient’s consent.
Clinical Trial Results
According to U.S. News and World Report[i], “the (FDA’s) approval is based on a clinical trial involving 385 people, according to materials from an October 2022 advisory committee meeting evaluating the test’s merits. Of those participants, 175 had a diagnosed opioid use disorder.
The AvertD test accurately detected those at risk of opioid addiction about 83% of the time, results showed. It accurately ruled out those not at risk about 80% of the time.
However, test accuracy varied between ethnicities. The AvertD test accurately detected the risk of opioid addiction about 81% of the time in whites but nearly 92% of the time in Hispanics.
The FDA also noted that there are risks associated with the AvertD test, mainly false negative and false positive results.”
Aware Recovery Care Services
If you or a loved one is struggling with an addiction to opioids, other drugs, or alcohol and need help in Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Virginia, Georgia, Florida, Ohio, Kentucky, or Indiana, the recovery teams at Aware Recovery Care are here to help. And we come to you, regardless of where you live. Our unique in-home treatment model of care gives clients a significantly better chance of recovery than traditional inpatient rehab care. Please get in touch with one of our Recovery Specialists to learn more.
[i] https://www.usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2023-12-21/fda-approves-first-test-to-spot-folks-at-high-risk-of-opioid-use-disorder
