Nephrotic Syndrome Panel

Summary
Is a 96 gene panel that includes assessment of non-coding variants.

In addition, it also includes the maternally inherited mitochondrial genome.
Is ideal for patients with nephrotic syndrome

Analysis methods
  • PLUS
Availability
4 weeks
Number of genes
96
Test code
KI0401
Panel tier
Tier 2
CPT Code *
81404, 81405 x2, 81406 x4, 81407 x4, 81408 x2, 81479, 81460, 81465
* The CPT codes provided are based on AMA guidelines and are for informational purposes only. CPT coding is the sole responsibility of the billing party. Please direct any questions regarding coding to the payer being billed.

Summary

The Blueprint Genetics Nephrotic Syndrome Panel (test code KI0401):

Read about our accreditations, certifications and CE-marked IVD medical devices here.

ICD Codes

Refer to the most current version of ICD-10-CM manual for a complete list of ICD-10 codes.

Sample Requirements

  • Blood (min. 1ml) in an EDTA tube
  • Extracted DNA, min. 2 μg in TE buffer or equivalent
  • Saliva (Please see Sample Requirements for accepted saliva kits)

Label the sample tube with your patient’s name, date of birth and the date of sample collection.

We do not accept DNA samples isolated from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue. In addition, if the patient is affected with a hematological malignancy, DNA extracted from a non-hematological source (e.g. skin fibroblasts) is strongly recommended.

Please note that, in rare cases, mitochondrial genome (mtDNA) variants may not be detectable in blood or saliva in which case DNA extracted from post-mitotic tissue such as skeletal muscle may be a better option.

Read more about our sample requirements here.

Nephrotic syndrome is caused by a leaky glomerular filtration barrier resulting in extensive proteinuria, hypoalbuminemia, hyperlipidemia and edema. The majority of patients (80-90%) with nephrotic syndrome are responsive to steroid treatment and achieve remission with a good long-term prognosis. The remaining 10-20% are considered to have steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome (SRNS). Some of these patients may respond to other immunosuppressive therapies. The prognosis of steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome is poor, as 30–40% develop end-stage renal disease (ESRD) requiring dialysis and transplantation (PMID: 19280229). Decades of extensive research have revealed important insights into the molecular genetic structure and function of the glomerular filtration barrier. Identification of nephrin gene (NPHS1) mutation, causing congenital nephrosis of Finnish type, opened up a new era in the understanding of the pathophysiology and genetics of proteinuric diseases. Identified genes, their mutations, and genotype-phenotype correlations are now being translated into everyday clinical practice through genetic testing. Ineffective treatment with steroids and other immunosuppressives can be avoided with genetic testing in patients with nephrotic syndrome (PMID: 20798252). Identification of causative mutations can also be used in the prediction of increased risk of post-transplant proteinuria. Post-transplant recurrence is generally high but almost unknown in patients with a genetic origin of the disease. After establishing a genetic diagnosis, transplantation, particularly live related transplantation, may be explored as a therapeutic option in the early phases of the disease (PMID: 20798252). This nephrotic syndrome panel also includes disorders resulting in progressive renal failure such as Alport syndrome.

Genes in the Nephrotic Syndrome Panel and their clinical significance

To view complete table content, scroll horizontally.

Gene Associated phenotypes Inheritance ClinVar HGMD
ACTN4* Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis AD 4 31
ADCK4 Nephrotic syndrome AR 11 27
ANLN Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis AD 2 4
APOL1* Sporadic idiopathic steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome with focal segmental hyalinosis AD/AR 1
ARHGAP24 Familial idiopathic steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome with focal segmental hyalinosis AD/AR 3 10
ARHGDIA Nephrotic syndrome AR 3 3
CD2AP Glomerulosclerosis, focal segmental AR 3 14
COL4A3 Alport syndrome, Hematuria, benign familial AD/AR 123 264
COL4A4 Alport syndrome, Hematuria, benign familial AD/AR 110 232
COL4A5 Alport syndrome, X-linked XL 704 992
COQ2 Coenzyme Q10 deficiency AR 16 31
COQ6 Coenzyme Q10 deficiency AR 14 15
CRB2 Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, Ventriculomegaly with cystic kidney disease AR 12 22
CUBN* Megaloblastic anemia-1, Finnish AR 42 53
DGKE Nephrotic syndrome AR 17 38
DLC1 Nephrotic syndrome AR 5 22
EMP2 Nephrotic syndrome AR 3 3
FAN1 Interstitial nephritis, karyomegalic AR 12 21
FAT1 Nephrotic syndrome AR 2 36
FN1 Glomerulopathy with fibronectin deposits 2 AD 14 25
INF2 Glomerulosclerosis, Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease AD 20 67
ITGA3 Interstitial lung disease with nephrotic syndrome and epidermolysis bullosa AR 6 11
KANK1 Cerebral palsy, spastic quadriplegic, 2, Nephrotic syndrome AD/AR 4 10
KANK2 Palmoplantar keratoderma and woolly hair, Nephrotic syndrome AR 3 3
KANK4 Nephrotic syndrome AR 1
LAGE3 3 3
LAMB2 Nephrotic syndrome, Pierson syndrome AR 20 122
LMX1B Nail-patella syndrome AD 26 194
LYZ Amyloidosis, systemic nonneuropathic AD 5 10
MAFB Multicentric carpotarsal osteolysis AD 13 23
MAGI2 Nephrotic syndrome 15 AR 7 27
MT-ATP6 Neuropathy, ataxia, and retinitis pigmentosa, Leber hereditary optic neuropathy, Ataxia and polyneuropathy, adult-onset, Cardiomyopathy, infantile hypertrophic, Leigh syndrome, Striatonigral degeneration, infantile, mitochondrial Mitochondrial 19
MT-ATP8 Cardiomyopathy, apical hypertrophic, and neuropathy, Cardiomyopathy, infantile hypertrophic Mitochondrial 4
MT-CO1 Myoglobinuria, recurrent, Leber hereditary optic neuropathy, Sideroblastic anemia, Cytochrome C oxidase deficiency, Deafness, mitochondrial Mitochondrial 17
MT-CO2 Cytochrome c oxidase deficiency Mitochondrial 8
MT-CO3 Cytochrome c oxidase deficiency, Leber hereditary optic neuropathy Mitochondrial 9
MT-CYB Mitochondrial 69
MT-ND1 Mitochondrial myopathy, encephalopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke-like episodes, Leber hereditary optic neuropathy, Leber optic atrophy and dystonia Mitochondrial 21
MT-ND2 Leber hereditary optic neuropathy, Mitochondrial complex I deficiency Mitochondrial 6
MT-ND3 Leber optic atrophy and dystonia, Mitochondrial complex I deficiency Mitochondrial 7
MT-ND4 Leber hereditary optic neuropathy, Leber optic atrophy and dystonia, Mitochondrial complex I deficiency Mitochondrial 11
MT-ND4L Leber hereditary optic neuropathy Mitochondrial 2
MT-ND5 Myoclonic epilepsy with ragged red fibers, Mitochondrial myopathy, encephalopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke-like episodes, Leber hereditary optic neuropathy, Mitochondrial complex I deficiency Mitochondrial 19
MT-ND6 Mitochondrial myopathy, encephalopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke-like episodes, Oncocytoma, Leber hereditary optic neuropathy, Leber optic atrophy and dystonia, Mitochondrial complex I deficiency Mitochondrial 16
MT-RNR1 Deafness, mitochondrial Mitochondrial 3
MT-RNR2 Chloramphenicol toxicity/resistance Mitochondrial 2
MT-TA Mitochondrial 4
MT-TC Mitochondrial myopathy, encephalopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke-like episodes Mitochondrial 3
MT-TD Mitochondrial 1
MT-TE Diabetes-deafness syndrome, Mitochondrial myopathy, infantile, transient, Mitochondrial myopathy with diabetes Mitochondrial 5
MT-TF Myoclonic epilepsy with ragged red fibers, Nephropathy, tubulointerstitial, Encephalopathy, mitochondrial, Epilepsy, mitochondrial, Myopathy, mitochondrial, Mitochondrial encephalomyopathy with lactic acidosis and stroke-like episodes Mitochondrial 7
MT-TG Mitochondrial 3
MT-TH Mitochondrial 4
MT-TI Mitochondrial 7
MT-TK Myoclonic epilepsy with ragged red fibers, Leigh syndrome Mitochondrial 5
MT-TL1 Cytochrome c oxidase deficiency, Myoclonic epilepsy with ragged red fibers, Mitochondrial myopathy, encephalopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke-like episodes, Diabetes-deafness syndrome, Cyclic vomiting syndrome, SIDS, susceptibility to Mitochondrial 14
MT-TL2 Mitochondrial multisystemic disorder, Progressive external ophthalmoplegia, Mitochondrial Myopathy, Mitochondrial encephalomyopathy with lactic acidosis and stroke-like episodes Mitochondrial 5
MT-TM Leigh syndrome, Mitochondrial multisystemic disorder Mitochondrial 1
MT-TN Progressive external ophthalmoplegia, Mitochondrial multisystemic disorder Mitochondrial 3
MT-TP Mitochondrial 2
MT-TQ Mitochondrial multisystemic disorder Mitochondrial 2
MT-TR Encephalopathy, mitochondrial Mitochondrial 2
MT-TS1 Myoclonic epilepsy with ragged red fibers, Mitochondrial myopathy, encephalopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke-like episodes Mitochondrial 10
MT-TS2 Mitochondrial multisystemic disorder Mitochondrial 2
MT-TT Mitochondrial 5
MT-TV Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), Leigh syndrome, Mitochondrial multisystemic disorder, Mitochondrial encephalomyopathy with lactic acidosis and stroke-like episodes Mitochondrial 3
MT-TW Leigh syndrome, Myopathy, mitochondrial Mitochondrial 8
MT-TY Mitochondrial multisystemic disorder Mitochondrial 4
MYH9 Sebastian syndrome, May-Hegglin anomaly, Epstein syndrome, Fechtner syndrome, Macrothrombocytopenia and progressive sensorineural deafness, Deafness, autosomal dominant 17 AD 25 117
MYO1E Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis AR 3 22
NPHS1 Nephrotic syndrome AR 171 318
NPHS2 Nephrotic syndrome AR 54 208
NUP107 Nephrotic syndrome, type 11 AR 6 12
NUP133 Nephrotic syndrome AR 1 2
NUP205 Nephrotic syndrome, type 13 1 2
NUP85 Nephrotic syndrome AR 1
NUP93 Nephrotic syndrome AR 5 9
OSGEP Galloway-Mowat syndrome AR 11 17
PAX2 Isolated renal hypoplasia, Papillorenal syndrome, Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis 7 AD 30 96
PDSS2 Coenzyme Q10 deficiency AR 8 4
PLCE1 Nephrotic syndrome AR 13 62
PTPRO Nephrotic syndrome AR 3 10
SCARB2 Epilepsy, progressive myoclonic AR 23 27
SGPL1 Nephrotic syndrome 14 AR 8 17
SMARCAL1 Schimke immunoosseous dysplasia AR 20 88
TBC1D8B Nephrotic syndrome XL 1
TP53RK 4 5
TPRKB# 2 2
TRIM8 Epileptic encephalopathy AD 1 2
TRPC6 Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis AD 13 45
TTC21B Short-rib thoracic dysplasia, Nephronophthisis, Asphyxiating thoracic dysplasia (ATD; Jeune) AR 23 63
TTR Dystransthyretinemic hyperthyroxinemia, Amyloidosis, hereditary, transthyretin-related AD 52 148
WDR4 AR 1 6
WDR73 Galloway-Mowat syndrome AR 9 12
WT1 Denys-Drash syndrome, Frasier syndrome, Wilms tumor, Nephrotic syndrome, type 4 AD 42 183
XPO5 Nephrotic syndrome 3
#

The gene has suboptimal coverage (means <90% of the gene’s target nucleotides are covered at >20x with mapping quality score (MQ>20) reads), and/or the gene has exons listed under Test limitations section that are not included in the panel as they are not sufficiently covered with high quality sequence reads.

*

Some, or all, of the gene is duplicated in the genome. Read more.

The sensitivity to detect variants may be limited in genes marked with an asterisk (*) or number sign (#). Due to possible limitations these genes may not be available as single gene tests.

Gene refers to the HGNC approved gene symbol; Inheritance refers to inheritance patterns such as autosomal dominant (AD), autosomal recessive (AR), mitochondrial (mi), X-linked (XL), X-linked dominant (XLD) and X-linked recessive (XLR); ClinVar refers to the number of variants in the gene classified as pathogenic or likely pathogenic in this database (ClinVar); HGMD refers to the number of variants with possible disease association in the gene listed in Human Gene Mutation Database (HGMD). The list of associated, gene specific phenotypes are generated from CGD or Mitomap databases.

Non-coding variants covered by Nephrotic Syndrome Panel

To view complete table content, scroll horizontally.

Gene Genomic location HG19 HGVS RefSeq RS-number
ACTN4 Chr19:39137810 NM_004924.4 rs1355503133
ACTN4 Chr19:39138352 c.-34C>T NM_004924.4
COL4A3 Chr2:228145145 c.2224-11C>T NM_000091.4
COL4A3 Chr2:228168708 c.4028-27A>G NM_000091.4
COL4A3 Chr2:228173092 c.4462+457C>G NM_000091.4
COL4A3 Chr2:228173596 c.4463-18dupA NM_000091.4 rs769590145
COL4A4 Chr2:227875240 c.4334-23A>G NM_000092.4
COL4A5 ChrX:107813924 c.385-719G>A NM_033380.2 rs104886396
COL4A5 ChrX:107816792 c.466-12G>A NM_033380.2 rs104886414
COL4A5 ChrX:107820077 c.609+875G>T NM_033380.2
COL4A5 ChrX:107821295 c.646-12_646-11delTT NM_033380.2 rs104886436
COL4A5 ChrX:107834930 c.1423+57dupC NM_033380.2 rs104886328
COL4A5 ChrX:107838719 c.1424-20T>A NM_033380.2 rs281874668
COL4A5 ChrX:107842994 c.1948+894C>G NM_033380.2
COL4A5 ChrX:107845097 c.2042-18A>G NM_033380.2 rs104886341
COL4A5 ChrX:107849932 c.2245-40A>G NM_033380.2
COL4A5 ChrX:107849958 c.2245-14T>A NM_033380.2
COL4A5 ChrX:107852872 c.2395+2750A>G NM_033380.2
COL4A5 ChrX:107908726 c.3374-11C>A NM_033380.2 rs104886387
COL4A5 ChrX:107933678 c.4529-2300T>G NM_033380.2
COL4A5 ChrX:107935633 c.4529-345A>G NM_033380.2
COL4A5 ChrX:107938272 c.4821+121T>C NM_033380.2 rs104886423
COL4A5 ChrX:107938337 c.4822-152dupT NM_033380.2
COL4A5 ChrX:107938346 c.4822-151_4822-150insT NM_033380.2 rs397515494
CUBN Chr10:17088532 c.3330-439C>G NM_001081.3 rs386833782
DGKE Chr17:54925466 c.888+40A>G NM_003647.2
ITGA3 Chr17:48151801 c.1383-11T>A NM_005501.2
LMX1B Chr9:129377616 c.140-37_140-21delGGCGCTGACGGCCGGGC NM_001174146.1
NPHS1 Chr19:36335378 c.1931-17C>A NM_004646.3
NPHS1 Chr19:36336259 c.1930+11C>A NM_004646.3
NPHS1 Chr19:36343206 c.-475_-468delGAGAGAGA NM_004646.3 rs386833860
NPHS2 Chr1:179545163 c.-164C>T NM_014625.2 rs553068590
OSGEP Chr14:20920111 c.411+12_411+22delGCTCTACCCACinsTAAATAGAG NM_017807.3

Test Strengths

The strengths of this test include:

  • CAP accredited laboratory
  • CLIA-certified personnel performing clinical testing in a CLIA-certified laboratory
  • Powerful sequencing technologies, advanced target enrichment methods and precision bioinformatics pipelines ensure superior analytical performance
  • Careful construction of clinically effective and scientifically justified gene panels
  • Some of the panels include the whole mitochondrial genome (please see the Panel Content section)
  • Our Nucleus online portal providing transparent and easy access to quality and performance data at the patient level
  • ~2,000 non-coding disease causing variants in our clinical grade NGS assay for panels (please see ‘Non-coding disease causing variants covered by this panel’ in the Panel Content section)
  • Our rigorous variant classification scheme
  • Our systematic clinical interpretation workflow using proprietary software enabling accurate and traceable processing of NGS data
  • Our comprehensive clinical statements

Test Limitations

The following exons are not included in the panel as they are not sufficiently covered with high quality sequence reads: *TPRKB* (NM_001330387.1:3). Genes with suboptimal coverage in our assay are marked with number sign (#) and genes with partial, or whole gene, segmental duplications in the human genome are marked with an asterisk (*) if they overlap with the UCSC pseudogene regions. Gene is considered to have suboptimal coverage when >90% of the gene’s target nucleotides are not covered at >20x with mapping quality score (MQ>20) reads. The technology may have limited sensitivity to detect variants in genes marked with these symbols (please see the Panel content table above).

This test does not detect the following:

  • Complex inversions
  • Gene conversions
  • Balanced translocations
  • Some of the panels include the whole mitochondrial genome but not all (please see the Panel Content section)
  • Repeat expansion disorders unless specifically mentioned
  • Non-coding variants deeper than ±20 base pairs from exon-intron boundary unless otherwise indicated (please see above Panel Content / non-coding variants covered by the panel).

This test may not reliably detect the following:

  • Low level mosaicism in nuclear genes (variant with a minor allele fraction of 14.6% is detected with 90% probability)
  • Stretches of mononucleotide repeats
  • Low level heteroplasmy in mtDNA (>90% are detected at 5% level)
  • Indels larger than 50bp
  • Single exon deletions or duplications
  • Variants within pseudogene regions/duplicated segments
  • Some disease causing variants present in mtDNA are not detectable from blood, thus post-mitotic tissue such as skeletal muscle may be required for establishing molecular diagnosis.

The sensitivity of this test may be reduced if DNA is extracted by a laboratory other than Blueprint Genetics.

For additional information, please refer to the Test performance section.

The genes on the panel have been carefully selected based on scientific literature, mutation databases and our experience.

Our panels are sectioned from our high-quality, clinical grade NGS assay. Please see our sequencing and detection performance table for details regarding our ability to detect different types of alterations (Table).

Assays have been validated for various sample types including EDTA-blood, isolated DNA (excluding from formalin fixed paraffin embedded tissue), saliva and dry blood spots (filter cards). These sample types were selected in order to maximize the likelihood for high-quality DNA yield. The diagnostic yield varies depending on the assay used, referring healthcare professional, hospital and country. Plus analysis increases the likelihood of finding a genetic diagnosis for your patient, as large deletions and duplications cannot be detected using sequence analysis alone. Blueprint Genetics’ Plus Analysis is a combination of both sequencing and deletion/duplication (copy number variant (CNV)) analysis.

The performance metrics listed below are from an initial validation performed at our main laboratory in Finland. The performance metrics of our laboratory in Marlborough, MA, are equivalent.

Performance of Blueprint Genetics high-quality, clinical grade NGS sequencing assay for panels.

Sensitivity % (TP/(TP+FN) Specificity %
Single nucleotide variants 99.89% (99,153/99,266) >99.9999%
Insertions, deletions and indels by sequence analysis
1-10 bps 99.2% (7,745/7,806) >99.9999%
11-50 bps 99.13% (2,524/2,546) >99.9999%
Copy number variants (exon level dels/dups)
1 exon level deletion (heterozygous) 100% (20/20) NA
1 exon level deletion (homozygous) 100% (5/5) NA
1 exon level deletion (het or homo) 100% (25/25) NA
2-7 exon level deletion (het or homo) 100% (44/44) NA
1-9 exon level duplication (het or homo) 75% (6/8) NA
Simulated CNV detection
5 exons level deletion/duplication 98.7% 100.00%
Microdeletion/-duplication sdrs (large CNVs, n=37))
Size range (0.1-47 Mb) 100% (25/25)
     
The performance presented above reached by Blueprint Genetics high-quality, clinical grade NGS sequencing assay with the following coverage metrics
     
Mean sequencing depth 143X
Nucleotides with >20x sequencing coverage (%) 99.86%

Performance of Blueprint Genetics Mitochondrial Sequencing Assay.

Sensitivity % Specificity %
ANALYTIC VALIDATION (NA samples; n=4)
Single nucleotide variants
Heteroplasmic (45-100%) 100.0% (50/50) 100.0%
Heteroplasmic (35-45%) 100.0% (87/87) 100.0%
Heteroplasmic (25-35%) 100.0% (73/73) 100.0%
Heteroplasmic (15-25%) 100.0% (77/77) 100.0%
Heteroplasmic (10-15%) 100.0% (74/74) 100.0%
Heteroplasmic (5-10%) 100.0% (3/3) 100.0%
Heteroplasmic (<5%) 50.0% (2/4) 100.0%
CLINICAL VALIDATION (n=76 samples)
All types
Single nucleotide variants n=2026 SNVs
Heteroplasmic (45-100%) 100.0% (1940/1940) 100.0%
Heteroplasmic (35-45%) 100.0% (4/4) 100.0%
Heteroplasmic (25-35%) 100.0% (3/3) 100.0%
Heteroplasmic (15-25%) 100.0% (3/3) 100.0%
Heteroplasmic (10-15%) 100.0% (9/9) 100.0%
Heteroplasmic (5-10%) 92.3% (12/13) 99.98%
Heteroplasmic (<5%) 88.9% (48/54) 99.93%
Insertions and deletions by sequence analysis n=40 indels
Heteroplasmic (45-100%) 1-10bp 100.0% (32/32) 100.0%
Heteroplasmic (5-45%) 1-10bp 100.0% (3/3) 100.0%
Heteroplasmic (<5%) 1-10bp 100.0% (5/5) 99,997%
SIMULATION DATA /(mitomap mutations)
Insertions, and deletions 1-24 bps by sequence analysis; n=17
Homoplasmic (100%) 1-24bp 100.0% (17/17) 99.98%
Heteroplasmic (50%) 100.0% (17/17) 99.99%
Heteroplasmic (25%) 100.0% (17/17) 100.0%
Heteroplasmic (20%) 100.0% (17/17) 100.0%
Heteroplasmic (15%) 100.0% (17/17) 100.0%
Heteroplasmic (10%) 94.1% (16/17) 100.0%
Heteroplasmic (5%) 94.1% (16/17) 100.0%
Copy number variants (separate artifical mutations; n=1500)
Homoplasmic (100%) 500 bp, 1kb, 5 kb 100.0% 100.0%
Heteroplasmic (50%) 500 bp, 1kb, 5 kb 100.0% 100.0%
Heteroplasmic (30%) 500 bp, 1kb, 5 kb 100.0% 100.0%
Heteroplasmic (20%) 500 bp, 1kb, 5 kb 99.7% 100.0%
Heteroplasmic (10%) 500 bp, 1kb, 5 kb 99.0% 100.0%
The performance presented above reached by following coverage metrics at assay level (n=66)
Mean of medians Median of medians
Mean sequencing depth MQ0 (clinical) 18224X 17366X
Nucleotides with >1000x MQ0 sequencing coverage (%) (clinical) 100%
rho zero cell line (=no mtDNA), mean sequencing depth 12X

The target region for each gene includes coding exons and ±20 base pairs from the exon-intron boundary. In addition, the panel includes non-coding and regulatory variants if listed above (Non-coding variants covered by the panel). Some regions of the gene(s) may be removed from the panel if specifically mentioned in the ‘Test limitations” section above. If the test includes the mitochondrial genome the target region gene list contains the mitochondrial genes. The sequencing data generated in our laboratory is analyzed with our proprietary data analysis and annotation pipeline, integrating state-of-the art algorithms and industry-standard software solutions. Incorporation of rigorous quality control steps throughout the workflow of the pipeline ensures the consistency, validity and accuracy of results. Our pipeline is streamlined to maximize sensitivity without sacrificing specificity. We have incorporated a number of reference population databases and mutation databases including, but not limited, to 1000 Genomes Project, gnomAD, ClinVar and HGMD into our clinical interpretation software to make the process effective and efficient. For missense variants, in silico variant prediction tools such as  SIFT, PolyPhen,MutationTaster are used to assist with variant classification. Through our online ordering and statement reporting system, Nucleus, ordering providers have access to the details of the analysis, including patient specific sequencing metrics, a gene level coverage plot and a list of regions with suboptimal coverage (<20X for nuclear genes and <1000X for mtDNA) if applicable. This reflects our mission to build fully transparent diagnostics where ordering providers can easily visualize the crucial details of the analysis process.

We provide customers with the most comprehensive clinical report available on the market. Clinical interpretation requires a fundamental understanding of clinical genetics and genetic principles. At Blueprint Genetics, our PhD molecular geneticists, medical geneticists, and clinical consultants prepare the clinical statement together by evaluating the identified variants in the context of the phenotypic information provided in the requisition form. Our goal is to provide clinically meaningful statements that are understandable for all medical professionals regardless of whether they have formal training in genetics.

Variant classification is the cornerstone of clinical interpretation and resulting patient management decisions. Our classifications follow the ACMG guideline 2015.

The final step in the analysis is orthogonal confirmation. Sequence and copy number variants classified as pathogenic, likely pathogenic, and variants of uncertain significance (VUS) are confirmed using bi-directional Sanger sequencing or by orthogonal methods such as qPCR/ddPCR when they do not meet our stringent NGS quality metrics for a true positive call.

Our clinical statement includes tables for sequencing and copy number variants that include basic variant information (genomic coordinates, HGVS nomenclature, zygosity, allele frequencies, in silico predictions, OMIM phenotypes, and classification of the variant). In addition, the statement includes detailed descriptions of the variant, gene, and phenotype(s) including the role of the specific gene in human disease, the mutation profile, information about the gene’s variation in population cohorts, and detailed information about related phenotypes. We also provide links to the references, abstracts, and variant databases used to help ordering providers further evaluate the reported findings if desired. The conclusion summarizes all of the existing information and provides our rationale for the classification of the variant.

Identification of pathogenic or likely pathogenic variants in dominant disorders or their combinations in different alleles in recessive disorders are considered molecular confirmation of the clinical diagnosis. In these cases, family member testing can be used for risk stratification. We do not recommend using variants of uncertain significance (VUS) for family member risk stratification or patient management. Genetic counseling is recommended.

Our interpretation team analyzes millions of variants from thousands of individuals with rare diseases. Our internal database and our understanding of variants and related phenotypes increases with every case analyzed. Our laboratory is therefore well-positioned to re-classify previously reported variants as new information becomes available. If a variant previously reported by Blueprint Genetics is re-classified, our laboratory will issue a follow-up statement to the original ordering healthcare provider at no additional cost, according to our latest follow-up reporting policy.