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Practices and Policies of Clinical Exome Sequencing Providers: Analysis and Implications
Author(s) -
Jamal Seema M.,
Yu JoonHo,
Chong Jessica X.,
Dent Karin M.,
Conta Jessie H.,
Tabor Holly K.,
Bamshad Michael J.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
american journal of medical genetics part a
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.064
H-Index - 112
eISSN - 1552-4833
pISSN - 1552-4825
DOI - 10.1002/ajmg.a.35942
Subject(s) - context (archaeology) , certification , exome sequencing , data sharing , service provider , informed consent , knowledge management , best practice , health care , business , psychology , public relations , service (business) , medicine , political science , computer science , alternative medicine , marketing , paleontology , biochemistry , chemistry , pathology , gene , law , mutation , biology
Exome and whole genome sequencing (ES/WGS) offer potential advantages over traditional approaches to diagnostic genetic testing. Consequently, use of ES/WGS in clinical settings is rapidly becoming commonplace. Yet there are myriad moral, ethical, and perhaps legal implications attached to the use of ES and health care professionals and institutions will need to consider these implications in the context of the varied practices and policies of ES service providers. We developed “core elements” of content and procedures for informed consent, data sharing, and results management and a quantitative scale to assess the extent to which research protocols met the standards established by these core elements. We then used these tools to evaluate the practices and policies of each of the 6 U.S. CLIA‐certified labs offering clinical ES. Approaches toward informed consent, data sharing, and results return vary widely among ES providers as do the overall potential merits and disadvantages of each, and more importantly, the balance between the two. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.