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Preliminary Communication

Reporting incidental findings of genomic disorder-associated copy number variants to unselected biobank participants

    Liis Leitsalu

    *Author for correspondence:

    E-mail Address: liis.leitsalu@ut.ee

    Estonian Genome Center, University of Tartu (EGCUT), Tartu, 51010, Estonia

    Institute of Molecular & Cell Biology, University of Tartu, Tartu, 51010, Estonia

    ,
    Helene Alavere

    Estonian Genome Center, University of Tartu (EGCUT), Tartu, 51010, Estonia

    ,
    Sébastien Jacquemont

    Service of Medical Genetics, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, 1011, Switzerland

    ,
    Anneli Kolk

    Estonian Genome Center, University of Tartu (EGCUT), Tartu, 51010, Estonia

    Department of Neurology, Children's Clinic of Tartu University Hospital, Tartu, 50406, Estonia

    ,
    Anne M Maillard

    Service of Medical Genetics, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, 1011, Switzerland

    ,
    Anu Reigo

    Estonian Genome Center, University of Tartu (EGCUT), Tartu, 51010, Estonia

    ,
    Margit Nõukas

    Estonian Genome Center, University of Tartu (EGCUT), Tartu, 51010, Estonia

    Institute of Molecular & Cell Biology, University of Tartu, Tartu, 51010, Estonia

    ,
    Alexandre Reymond

    Center for Integrative Genomics, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, 1015, Switzerland

    ,
    Katrin Männik

    Estonian Genome Center, University of Tartu (EGCUT), Tartu, 51010, Estonia

    Center for Integrative Genomics, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, 1015, Switzerland

    ,
    Pauline C Ng

    Estonian Genome Center, University of Tartu (EGCUT), Tartu, 51010, Estonia

    Genome Institute of Singapore, Singapore, 138672, Singapore

    &
    Andres Metspalu

    Estonian Genome Center, University of Tartu (EGCUT), Tartu, 51010, Estonia

    Institute of Molecular & Cell Biology, University of Tartu, Tartu, 51010, Estonia

    Published Online:https://doi.org/10.2217/pme-2016-0009

    Background: Procedural guidelines for disclosure of incidental genomic information are lacking. Methods: We introduce a method and evaluated the impact of returning results to population biobank participants with 16p11.2 copy number variants, which are commonly associated with neurodevelopmental disorders and BMI imbalance. Of the 7877 participants, 11 carriers were detected. Eight participants were informed of their carrier status and surveyed 11–17 months later. Results: All participants demonstrated preference for disclosure. Although two participants experienced worry, all five survey respondents rated receiving this information favorably. One participant reported modifications in treatment and three felt that their treatment/condition had since improved. Conclusion: This approach can be adapted and applied for the return of incidental findings to biobank participants.

    Papers of special note have been highlighted as: • of interest; •• of considerable interest

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