title: Secondary variants--in defense of a more fitting term in the incidental findings debate.
abstract: New genetic technologies are capable of returning far more information than the single answer to the single question posed when conducting a given genetic test. Genetics contexts consequently stand on the brink of an explosion of what have traditionally been called 'incidental findings'. However, the continued use of this term is controversial. Various replacements for 'incidental findings' have been attempted, but none with widespread success. Agreement on terminology and definitions is vital so that the legal and ethical debate around incidental findings can proceed. We highlight the difficulties raised by the various terms currently used as alternatives, and end by defending our choice for the term 'secondary variants'.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Biomedical Ethics and Law, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Catholic University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Gabrielle M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Christenhusz
authors.forename: Koenraad
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Devriendt
authors.forename: Kris
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Dierickx
mesh_terms: D005820:Genetic Testing / Q000379:methods; D005823:Genetics; D006801:Humans; D033162:Incidental Findings