Genetic test for individuals at high risk for glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency
Aiding in the diagnosis of G6PD deficiency
Determining G6PD deficiency status in individuals with inconclusive or unexpected phenotyping results
Differentiation of heterozygotes with skewed X-inactivation from homozygotes and compound heterozygotes
Definitive diagnosis of carrier status
Evaluation of neonates with unexplained jaundice
Identifying individuals at risk of drug-induced acute hemolytic anemia related to G6PD deficiency
This test is for molecular sequencing of the G6PD gene and does not assess glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) enzyme activity. Enzymatic testing may be suggested as follow-up to this assay. For G6PD enzyme testing order G6PD1 / Glucose 6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase Enzyme Activity, Blood.
G6PD deficiency is a common X-linked condition, estimated to affect up to 500 million people worldwide. Both male and female patients may be impacted due to how common G6PD deficiency is in the population.
Acute hemolytic anemia (AHA) can be triggered in individuals with G6PD deficiency by fava beans, several types of medications (including rasburicase, dapsone-containing combinations of antimalarial drugs, and methylene blue), and infection. Less commonly, chronic congenital nonspherocytic hemolytic anemia (CNSHA) may occur in severe forms of G6PD deficiency.
US Food and Drug Administration labeling and Clinical Pharmacogenetics Implementation Consortium (CPIC) guidelines recommend that G6PD testing be undertaken in high-risk populations before prescribing drugs known to cause AHA. Knowing a patient's genotype is generally sufficient to avoid contraindicated drugs, but follow-up with the phenotyping (enzyme) assay may be necessary to clarify results in some cases.
This test involves full gene sequencing of all exons and exon/intron boundaries of the G6PD gene. A comprehensive interpretation will be provided including congenital and pharmacogenomic implications of results. Testing should be considered before prescribing medication associated with hemolysis in individuals with G6PD deficiency.
The following are available:
-Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase (G6PD) Genotyping Interpretive Algorithm
Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) followed by DNA Sequence Analysis
Favism
G6PD
Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency.
Hemolytic anemia
The following are available:
-Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase (G6PD) Genotyping Interpretive Algorithm
Varies
For initial or time-sensitive screening for glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency, order G6PD1 / Glucose 6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase Enzyme Activity, Blood.
Include physician name and phone number with the specimen.
Submit only 1 of the following specimens:
Specimen Type: Whole blood
Container/Tube:
Preferred: Lavender top (EDTA) or yellow top (ACD)
Specimen Volume: 3 mL
Collection Instructions:
1. Invert several times to mix blood.
2. Send whole blood specimen in original tube. Do not aliquot.
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
1. New York Clients-Informed consent is required. Document on the request form or electronic order that a copy is on file. The following documents are available:
-Informed Consent for Genetic Testing (T576)
-Informed Consent for Genetic Testing (Spanish) (T826)
2. If not ordering electronically, complete, print, and send 1 of the following forms with the specimen:
-Therapeutics Test Request (T831)
Blood: 0.45 mL
Saliva: See Specimen Required
| Specimen Type | Temperature | Time | Special Container |
|---|---|---|---|
| Varies | Varies | ||
Genetic test for individuals at high risk for glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency
Aiding in the diagnosis of G6PD deficiency
Determining G6PD deficiency status in individuals with inconclusive or unexpected phenotyping results
Differentiation of heterozygotes with skewed X-inactivation from homozygotes and compound heterozygotes
Definitive diagnosis of carrier status
Evaluation of neonates with unexplained jaundice
Identifying individuals at risk of drug-induced acute hemolytic anemia related to G6PD deficiency
This test is for molecular sequencing of the G6PD gene and does not assess glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) enzyme activity. Enzymatic testing may be suggested as follow-up to this assay. For G6PD enzyme testing order G6PD1 / Glucose 6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase Enzyme Activity, Blood.
G6PD deficiency is a common X-linked condition, estimated to affect up to 500 million people worldwide. Both male and female patients may be impacted due to how common G6PD deficiency is in the population.
Acute hemolytic anemia (AHA) can be triggered in individuals with G6PD deficiency by fava beans, several types of medications (including rasburicase, dapsone-containing combinations of antimalarial drugs, and methylene blue), and infection. Less commonly, chronic congenital nonspherocytic hemolytic anemia (CNSHA) may occur in severe forms of G6PD deficiency.
US Food and Drug Administration labeling and Clinical Pharmacogenetics Implementation Consortium (CPIC) guidelines recommend that G6PD testing be undertaken in high-risk populations before prescribing drugs known to cause AHA. Knowing a patient's genotype is generally sufficient to avoid contraindicated drugs, but follow-up with the phenotyping (enzyme) assay may be necessary to clarify results in some cases.
This test involves full gene sequencing of all exons and exon/intron boundaries of the G6PD gene. A comprehensive interpretation will be provided including congenital and pharmacogenomic implications of results. Testing should be considered before prescribing medication associated with hemolysis in individuals with G6PD deficiency.
The following are available:
-Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase (G6PD) Genotyping Interpretive Algorithm
Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency is the most common human enzymopathy, estimated to affect up to 500 million people worldwide. It is most frequently found in populations where Plasmodium falciparum malaria is (or was) endemic, but G6PD deficiency may be present in any population.
G6PD deficiency primarily manifests as episodic acute hemolytic anemia (AHA), chronic non-spherocytic hemolytic anemia (CNSHA), and neonatal jaundice. These clinical manifestations can be triggered in individuals with G6PD deficiency by fava beans, several types of medications (including rasburicase, dapsone-containing combinations of antimalarial drugs, and methylene blue), and infection.
G6PD converts glucose-6-phosphate to 6-phosphoglyconolactone in the first step of the pentose phosphate pathway, this reaction also produces nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) from NADP(+). NADPH, through subsequent enzymatic reactions, protects erythrocytes from damage by detoxifying hydrogen peroxide and other sources of oxidative stress.
G6PD is encoded by the gene G6PD, which lies on the X-chromosome. G6PD deficiency is inherited in an X-linked recessive manner; therefore, male patients are more commonly affected than female patients, but due to the high prevalence of G6PD deficiency, homozygous and compound heterozygous female patients are not uncommon. Over 200 G6PD variants have been discovered and are classified based on guidance from the World Health Organization (WHO). In 2022, WHO proposed updated guidance for the classification of G6PD variants (Table). This revised guidance is based on the median residual enzyme activity and seeks to resolve problems identified with the WHO G6PD classification system that has been in place since 1985 (Table).
Table. Updated and Legacy G6PD Variant WHO Classification and Associated G6PD Deficiency Phenotype
| 2022 WHO class | Median G6PD activity | Hemolysis | Legacy WHO class | Level of residual enzyme activity (% of normal) |
| A | <20% | Chronic (CNSHA) | I | <10% |
| B | <45% | Acute, triggered | II | <10% |
| III | 10%-60% | |||
| C | 60-150% | No hemolysis | IV | Normal |
| U | Any | Uncertain clinical significance | | |
With the exception of those with CNSHA, individuals with G6PD deficiency are typically asymptomatic until they are challenged with an exogenous factor, such as a drug, infection, or fava beans. The exogenous factor can trigger AHA in individuals with G6PD deficiency. The severity of AHA is highly variable, ranging from mild neonatal jaundice to life-threatening complications, such as kernicterus. Therefore, determining the G6PD deficiency status is recommended on the US Food and Drug Administration label of several drugs either proven or suspected to cause AHA in patients with G6PD deficiency. For more information on drugs known to cause AHA in individuals with G6PD deficiency, see Pharmacogenomic Associations Tables.
Preemptive genotyping allows for the identification of patients at risk for an adverse reaction to drugs known to cause AHA in those with G6PD deficiency. In most cases, genotyping provides sufficient information to avoid the use of contraindicated drugs. In some cases, including heterozygous female patients, the phenotyping assay is necessary to determine if such drugs should be avoided. Skewed X-inactivation in heterozygous female patients has been reported to result in G6PD deficiency, so the phenotyping assay is necessary to determine G6PD activity level.
An interpretive report will be provided.
All detected alterations will be evaluated according to the latest American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics recommendations and the most recent World Health Organization system for classifying genetic variants of G6PD.(1,2) Variants will be classified based on known, predicted, or possible effect on gene pathogenicity and reported with interpretive comments detailing their potential or known significance.
Patients who have received a non-leukocyte reduced blood transfusion within the preceding 6 weeks, or who have received an allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant, can have inaccurate genetic test results due to the presence of both donor and recipient DNA.
For patients who have been transfused within the preceding 6 weeks, the glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) enzyme assay will also be affected, so it is not an appropriate alternative test.
Patients who have received an allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant would be expected to convert G6PD status to that of donor. However, if the patient's transplant was partially successful or if there is a relapse of an underlying hematologic malignancy, a mixture of donor and recipient genotype may be seen on genetic analysis. The enzyme assay can be run after transplantation; order G6PD1 / Glucose 6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase Enzyme Activity, Blood.
Rare variants exist that could lead to false-negative or false-positive results. Other variants in the primer binding regions can affect the testing, and ultimately, the genotype assessment made.
Test results should be interpreted in the context of clinical findings, family history, and other laboratory data. Large deletions or rearrangements are not detected by this assay.
Sometimes a genetic alteration of unknown significance may be identified. In this case, testing of appropriate family members may be useful to determine pathogenicity of the alteration.
This test is not designed to provide specific dosing or drug selection recommendations and is to be used as an aid to clinical decision making only. Drug-label guidance should be used when dosing patients with medications regardless of the predicted phenotype.
Skewed X-inactivation in heterozygous female patients has been reported to result in G6PD deficiency. In these cases, the phenotyping (enzyme) assay is necessary to determine G6PD activity level and assign G6PD deficiency status.
Rarely, incidental or secondary findings may implicate another predisposition or presence of active disease. Incidental findings may include, but are not limited to, results related to the sex chromosomes. These findings will be carefully reviewed to determine whether they will be reported.
1. Richards S, Aziz N, Bale S, et al. Standards and guidelines for the interpretation of sequence variants: a joint consensus recommendation of the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics and the Association for Molecular Pathology. Genet Med. 2015;(17):105-423
2. Global Malaria Programme, Malaria Policy Advisory Group. Meeting report of the technical consultation to review the classification of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD). World Health Organization; 2022. Accessed July 3, 2023. Available at www.who.int/publications/m/item/WHO-UCN-GMP-MPAG-2022.01
3. Luzzatto L, Ally M, Notaro R. Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency. Blood. 2020;136(11):1225-1240. doi:10.1182/blood.2019000944
4. Cappellini MD, Fiorelli G. Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency. Lancet. 2008;371:64-67
5. Luzzatto L, Seneca E. G6PD deficiency: a classic example of pharmacogenetics with on-going clinical implications. Br J Haematol. 2014;164:469-480
4. OMIM. 305900 Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase. Johns Hopkins University; 1987. Updated April 28, 2023. Accessed July 3, 2023. Available at www.omim.org/entry/305900
5. Relling MV, McDonagh EM, Chang T, et al. Clinical Pharmacogenetics Implementation Consortium (CPIC) guidelines for rasburicase therapy in the context of G6PD deficiency genotype. Clin Pharmacol Ther. 2014 Aug;96(2):169-174
Genomic DNA is extracted from whole blood. The G6PD gene is amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The PCR products are then purified and sequenced in both directions using fluorescent dye-terminator chemistry. Sequencing products are separated on an automated sequencer and trace files analyzed for variations in the exons and intron/exon boundaries of all exons using variant detection software and visual inspection. Variant nomenclature is based on GenBank accession number NM_001042351.2 using human genome assembly GRCh37 (hg19).(Unpublished Mayo method)
Monday, Wednesday
This test was developed and its performance characteristics determined by Mayo Clinic in a manner consistent with CLIA requirements. It has not been cleared or approved by the US Food and Drug Administration.
81249
| Test Id | Test Order Name | Order LOINC Value |
|---|---|---|
| G6PDZ | G6PD Full Gene Sequencing, V | 94231-8 |
| Result Id | Test Result Name |
Result LOINC Value
Applies only to results expressed in units of measure originally reported by the performing laboratory. These values do not apply to results that are converted to other units of measure.
|
|---|---|---|
| 618837 | G6PD Phenotype | 47998-0 |
| 618838 | Result Details | 82939-0 |
| 618839 | Interpretation | 69047-9 |
| 618840 | Additional Information | 48767-8 |
| 618841 | Method | 85069-3 |
| 618842 | Disclaimer | 62364-5 |
| 618843 | Reviewed By | 18771-6 |