Guidelines for diagnostic next-generation sequencing.
We present, on behalf of EuroGentest and the European Society of Human Genetics, guidelines for the evaluation and validation of next-generation sequencing (NGS) applications for the diagnosis of genetic disorders. The work was performed by a group of laboratory geneticists and bioinformaticians, and discussed with clinical geneticists, industry and patients' representatives, and other stakeholders in the field of human genetics. The statements that were written during the elaboration of the guidelines are presented here. The background document and full guidelines are available as supplementary material. They include many examples to assist the laboratories in the implementation of NGS and accreditation of this service. The work and ideas presented by others in guidelines that have emerged elsewhere in the course of the past few years were also considered and are acknowledged in the full text. Interestingly, a few new insights that have not been cited before have emerged during the preparation of the guidelines. The most important new feature is the presentation of a 'rating system' for NGS-based diagnostic tests. The guidelines and statements have been applauded by the genetic diagnostic community, and thus seem to be valuable for the harmonization and quality assurance of NGS diagnostics in Europe.
Center for Human Genetics, KU Leuven, Gasthuisberg, Laboratory for Molecular Diagnosis, Leuven, Belgium.
Gert
G
Matthijs
Center for Human Genetics, KU Leuven, Gasthuisberg, Laboratory for Molecular Diagnosis, Leuven, Belgium.
Erika
E
Souche
Department of Clinical Genetics, Academic Medical Centre (AMC), University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Mariëlle
M
Alders
Center for Human Genetics, KU Leuven, Gasthuisberg, Laboratory for Molecular Diagnosis, Leuven, Belgium.
Anniek
A
Corveleyn
Center for Human Genetics and Laboratory Medicine, Martinsried, Germany.
Sebastian
S
Eck
Department of Human Genetics, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Ilse
I
Feenstra
Center for Human Genetics, KU Leuven, Gasthuisberg, Laboratory for Molecular Diagnosis, Leuven, Belgium.
Valérie
V
Race
Department of Clinical Genetics, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Erik
E
Sistermans
University Hospital of Tübingen, Institute of Medical Genetics and Applied Genomics, Tübingen, Germany.
Marc
M
Sturm
Department of Clinical Genetics, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Marjan
M
Weiss
Department of Human Genetics, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Helger
H
Yntema
Department of Clinical Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands.
Egbert
E
Bakker
Department of Human Genetics, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Hans
H
Scheffer
University Hospital of Tübingen, Institute of Medical Genetics and Applied Genomics, Tübingen, Germany.
Peter
P
Bauer
D000068:Accreditation / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D030541:Databases, Genetic; D005060:Europe; D015870:Gene Expression; D030342:Genetic Diseases, Inborn / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D005820:Genetic Testing / Q000592:standards*; D059014:High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D033162:Incidental Findings; D033181:Information Dissemination / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D007258:Informed Consent; D011506:Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D012107:Research Design / Q000592:standards; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D015415:Biomarkers; D011506:Proteins