MD, DC & VA · Telehealth Available
Genetic Testing That Takes the Guesswork Out of Medication
Most people don’t realize how much genetics influences whether a medication works. Only about 40% of patients find relief with their first antidepressant, and for many, months of switching medications and managing side effects take a serious toll.
At Ardent Total Wellness, Robin Hewitt uses pharmacogenomic (PGx) genetic testing to understand how your unique biology processes psychiatric medications—before prescribing, not after. It meaningfully changes how we approach your care from day one.
Understanding Your Biology
Why Medications Don’t Work the Same for Everyone
The reason a medication worked for your friend—or didn’t work for you—may have nothing to do with your diagnosis. It may simply be your genetics.
Your body uses two key enzymes—CYP2D6 and CYP2C19—to break down most psychiatric medications. How efficiently your body produces these enzymes determines everything.
Neither fast nor slow metabolizers are doing anything wrong—their DNA is simply handling the medication differently.
Pharmacogenomic testing identifies exactly where you fall so your provider can choose a medication your body is actually equipped to work with — not discover what doesn’t fit through trial and error.
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Fast Metabolizers
The medication processes too quickly, therapeutic levels never build up, little to no effect.
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Slow Metabolizers
Medication accumulates, and side effects appear before any benefit does.
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Standard Metabolizers
Medication works largely as expected.
The Science Behind the Test
What Is Pharmacogenomic (PGx) Genetic Testing?
PGx testing analyzes specific genes that control how your body metabolizes psychiatric medications. A simple cheek swab—no needles, no blood draw—provides a DNA sample sent to a certified laboratory. Results return within 3–5 business days, showing your provider:
Important: PGx testing does not diagnose any mental health condition — it gives your provider a biology-based starting point, reducing the guesswork that makes early treatment feel so uncertain.
Our Validated Testing Panel
Ardent uses a clinically validated pharmacogenomic panel processed through a CLIA-certified laboratory. The panel covers the primary genes relevant to psychiatric medication metabolism and is accepted by all major insurance providers we work with.
🧬 Results returned as structured clinical report—not raw genomic data
🔬 Reviewed with you in full during your follow-up consultation, Licensed & State Credentialed
CYP2D6
CYP2C19
SLC6A4
HTR2A
Is This Right for You?
Who Can Benefit from PGx Testing
You don’t need to have failed multiple medications to benefit. Some patients choose testing to avoid that experience altogether—starting with a biology-based plan rather than waiting to find out what doesn’t work.
PGx testing tends to be especially valuable if you:
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Have tried two or more medications without lasting improvement
Your genetic profile may reveal why previous medications have not worked as expected.
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Experienced strong or unexpected side effects
Knowing your metabolizer status before prescribing significantly improves treatment tolerance.
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Notice a medication that once worked is beginning to lose effectiveness
PGx testing adds objective data to help your provider understand what’s changing.
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Feel uncertain about where your current treatment is headed
Start with a biology-based plan rather than guesswork.
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Are newly starting psychiatric care and want a more informed foundation
Begin care on more informed grounds and avoid the trial-and-error process altogether.
It cannot replace clinical evaluation or ongoing monitoring—it is one meaningful tool, used well alongside everything else.
Who Tends to Benefit Most
There is no single profile. Some patients come to Ardent after years of cycling through medications without lasting results. Others want to begin psychiatric care on more informed grounds and avoid that process altogether.
Complicated medication history—multiple trials, unexpected side effects
Symptoms that partially respond but never fully resolve
Patients on more than one psychiatric medication
Drug-gene interactions compounding unpredictability
For Complex Cases
If You Are on Multiple Medications
Patients managing more than one psychiatric medication have the most to gain from PGx testing. When multiple drugs are processed through the same enzyme pathway—which is common in psychiatric care—one medication can interfere with how your body handles another.
This is called a drug-gene interaction, and it can explain why a combination that works for one patient causes problems for another.
Robin Hewitt reviews your full medication list alongside your genetic results, not just one prescription in isolation. This is particularly important for patients who have been stable on a combination for years and are considering any change.
Conditions Where PGx Testing Supports Better Medication Decisions
Genetic testing adds meaningful clarity across a wide range of psychiatric conditions.
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Depression — Where the research base is strongest. When multiple antidepressants have been tried without success, genetic testing often reveals a metabolic explanation and a clearer path forward.
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Anxiety—particularly useful when previous medications increased symptoms or caused physical discomfort.
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ADHD—PGx testing adds objective data to what can otherwise feel like endless trial adjustments.
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Bipolar Disorder—Helps providers make more precise dosing decisions from the beginning.
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PTSD & OCD — Gives your provider better information when selecting and adjusting treatment.
How It Works
How the Process Works
1
Schedule Directly — No Referral Needed
Call or book online. In-person available at our Maryland office; telehealth available across Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C.
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Simple Cheek Swab
A painless swab from the inside of your cheek. No needles, no blood tests. At-home kits may be available.
3
Certified Laboratory Analysis
Your sample is processed in a secure, accredited laboratory focused on genes linked to psychiatric medication metabolism.
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Results Within 3–5 Business Days
You receive a structured report—not raw data—organized into clear categories, reviewed with you in full detail.
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One-on-One Provider Consultation
Robin Hewitt walks through every section of your results personally so you understand what each finding means for your specific treatment.
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Medication Plan Adjusted to Your Biology
Your plan is updated based on results, current symptoms, and your comfort level. Ongoing monitoring continues as part of your regular care.
👉 Most patients complete the full process within approximately one week.
Understanding Your Report
Reading Your Results
Your report organizes medications into three categories:
Green—Well-Suited
Well-suited to how your body metabolizes it.
Yellow — May Work with Adjustments
May work but could require dose adjustments or monitoring.
Red — Use Caution
Higher likelihood of side effects or reduced effectiveness — important information before prescribing.
Beyond color coding, the report explains your metabolizer status — whether you process medications quickly, slowly, or at a standard rate. Your provider uses this alongside your clinical picture to make decisions grounded in both your symptoms and your biology.
An Honest Note on What This Test Cannot Do
PGx testing is not a diagnostic tool. It will not tell you which medication is definitely right for you—medicine does not work that way, and any service claiming otherwise should raise concern.
What it does is meaningfully reduce uncertainty
The science continues to develop — we use clinically validated, FDA-supported testing methods.
Results are integrated into your ongoing care, not filed away after a single appointment.
Clinical Testing vs. Consumer DNA Kits
Clinical PGx Testing vs. Direct-to-Consumer DNA Kits
If you have already done a consumer DNA test—23andMe or similar—that data is not designed for medication decisions.
| Consumer DNA Tests | Clinical PGx Testing at Ardent |
|---|---|
| General ancestry and wellness insights | Medication-specific pharmacogenomic analysis |
| No provider interpretation | Results reviewed one-on-one with your provider |
| Not designed for clinical prescribing | Directly integrated into your treatment plan |
| Broad population-level data | Clinically validated, individual-level guidance |
Consumer tests are built for curiosity. Clinical PGx testing is built for prescribing decisions — the difference matters significantly with psychiatric medications.
Privacy and Data Security
Your genetic information is among the most personal data that exists. At Ardent Total Wellness:
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All testing follows HIPAA-compliant standards throughout
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Testing conducted in certified, secure laboratories
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Access strictly limited to authorized clinical personnel
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Your genetic data is never sold, shared, or used for marketing
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All samples handled under strict protocols and disposed of per regulatory guidelines
Why Ardent
Why Patients in Maryland Choose Ardent
Personalized results review — not just a printout
Robin Hewitt reviews every section of your results with you directly, explaining what each finding means for your specific medications.
Built around one question
Why is this treatment working or not working for this specific person? Genetic testing is one tool she uses to answer that.
Full clinical picture considered
Results reviewed alongside your medication history, your symptoms, and your own experience of what has and has not helped.
Maryland licensed & PGx trained
Robin Hewitt holds a Maryland license (#1013360569) and has completed specialized training in pharmacogenomics-guided psychiatric care.
No referral required — same week availability
Schedule directly with our clinic, no referral needed.
Robin Hewitt
MSN, PMHNP-BC, FNP-C — Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner
Robin Hewitt holds a Maryland license (#1013360569) and has completed specialized training in pharmacogenomics-guided psychiatric care. She sees patients in person at Ardent’s Maryland office and via secure telehealth across Virginia and Washington, DC — including communities in Rockville, Bethesda, Gaithersburg, Silver Spring, and Germantown.
MSN
PMHNP-BC
FNP-C
MD License #1013360569
PGx Specialist
25+ Years Experience
Coverage & Cost
Insurance and Prior Authorization
Most major plans cover PGx testing, though some require prior authorization before the test is ordered—particularly when it is the first time a patient is requesting it. Ardent handles the prior authorization submission directly on your behalf. You will not need to navigate that process yourself.
If your plan does not cover testing or your authorization is denied, self-pay options are available, and our team will provide a clear cost estimate before anything is ordered.
📞 Call 240-261-7184 or email info@ardenttotalwellness.com to verify your coverage before scheduling.
Insurance & Getting Started
Ardent accepts most major insurance plans for PGx testing.
BCBS
Cigna
Humana
Magellan
Maryland Medicaid
Medicare
Optum
Tricare
United Healthcare
Magellan
Ardent handles prior authorization on your behalf. New patients seen within days.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about genetic testing at Ardent Total Wellness.
Does insurance cover this?
Most major plans cover PGx testing. Coverage varies by plan — call us, and we will verify your benefits directly before you schedule.
Do I need a referral?
No. You can schedule directly with our clinic.
Does this test diagnose a mental health condition?
No. PGx testing only evaluates how your body may process specific medications. Diagnosis is determined through a separate clinical evaluation.
Is this a one-time test?
Yes. Your genetic makeup does not change, so results remain relevant throughout your treatment.
Can this guarantee the right medication?
No test can guarantee a perfect match. PGx testing replaces guesswork with biology-based information—giving your provider a more reliable starting point.
What if I have already tried many medications?
That is one of the most common reasons patients pursue this. If previous medications have not worked as expected, your genetic profile may reveal why—and point toward better options.
Is at-home collection available?
In some cases, yes. Ask about kit availability when you schedule.
What if my results show no clearly compatible medications?
This is more common than patients expect. It does not mean treatment is impossible — it means your provider will use closer monitoring and more careful dosing to guide the process. Robin Hewitt will walk you through what your results mean and what comes next.
Service Area
Serving Maryland, Virginia & Washington, DC
Ardent Total Wellness provides genetic testing and personalized psychiatric care across three regions, with flexible scheduling designed to fit your life, not the other way around.
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In-person and telehealth appointments available statewide, with dedicated service in Rockville, Bethesda, Gaithersburg, Silver Spring, and Germantown.
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Full telehealth access for genetic testing consultations and ongoing medication management throughout Virginia.
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Both in-person and virtual care options are available for DC-area patients with flexible scheduling options.
Schedule Today
Ready to Stop Guessing?
If medication management has felt like endless adjustment without clear answers, genetic testing may be the step that changes that. At Ardent Total Wellness, Robin Hewitt works with you through every step — from consultation to your ongoing medication plan.