Invitae offers family variant testing for all blood relatives of patients who undergo diagnostic or proactive testing at Invitae and are found to have a pathogenic or likely pathogenic variant. Our family variant testing reports on the variant(s) that was identified in the original family member, as well as any other pathogenic variant(s) found in the full gene.
For patients who undergo diagnostic or proactive testing at Invitae and are found to have a pathogenic or likely pathogenic variant, their blood relatives can have up to a 50% risk of having the same variant.
Recent evidence shows that only a small percentage of relatives pursue follow-up testing.1,2 Reasons relatives do not pursue testing include lack of knowledge about the potential disease risk, family communication barriers, lack of access to genetics services, and cost of testing.3,4 As part of our commitment to lowering barriers to genetic testing, we offer testing to blood relatives of probands who were found to have a pathogenic or likely pathogenic variant.
If your patient does not meet these criteria, Invitae still offers testing at a reduced price, which may be covered by insurance. Visit www.invitae.com/billing to learn more.
If you prefer to place your order on paper, you can download the Family Variant Testing/VUS Resolution requisition form.
For family members of patients who were not tested at Invitae, select the “Browse test” tab, choose your desired test, and indicate the family variant details in the “Reasons for testing” section. Both a copy of the proband's report and information on family relationship to the original proband are required. A pedigree is recommended.
Have questions? Please don't hesitate to contact us.
References:
1. Christiaans I et al. Update of genetic counseling and predictive DNA testing in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Eur J Hum Genet. 2008;16(10):1201-7.
2. Sharaf RN et al. Uptake of genetic testing by relatives of Lynch syndrome probands: a systematic review. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2013;11(9):1093-100.
3. Kasparian NA et al. Genetic testing for melanoma risk: a prospective cohort study of uptake and outcomes among Australian families. Genet Med. 2009;11(4):265-78.
4. Sturm AC. Cardiovascular cascade genetic testing: exploring the role of direct contact and technology. Front Cardiovasc Med. 2016;3(11).
In order to help resolve variants of uncertain significance (VUS) in our panel test results, Invitae offers follow-up testing at no additional charge to family members of patients previously tested at Invitae. VUS resolution is available when testing additional family members may clarify the relationship between the variant and the genetic condition.
Although participation in this program may not result in an immediate reclassification of the VUS, the reclassification may still occur at a later date after multiple families with the variant are tested. If a variant is reclassified, Invitae will issue amended reports with the new interpretation to all individuals we’ve tested who have the variant.
Gathering more evidence about a particular variant by testing additional families may help to reclassify a VUS. However, we recognize that not all variants can be resolved through this kind of analysis. Invitae will clearly communicate if the variant in the proband’s report is eligible for VUS resolution.
The proband’s report will be labeled with one of the following statuses based on currently available evidence for the variant:
Not offered: Testing additional family member(s) will not provide further evidence to result in re-classification. Common examples of VUS’ in this category include:
For variants that qualify for the VUS resolution, a recommendation to participate will be placed in the proband’s report. For these variants, testing for up to two family members has been pre-approved. Guidance on which relatives will be the most useful for testing can be found in the reference table below or by contacting our client services team.*
If relevant medical records are not included, reclassification of a variant will be unlikely. A patient’s clinical features are used to aid in variant reclassification.
Please contact our client services team if you have any questions regarding initiating VUS resolution orders or required documentation for your case.
What if I want to test individuals who don’t qualify for the VUS resolution?
If the VUS identified in your patient does not qualify for VUS resolution, testing additional family members is unlikely to contribute to a reclassification in this family. For these cases, Invitae offers testing at a reduced price ($200/gene).
When a VUS qualifies for VUS resolution, which relatives should I test?
The table below can be used as a guide to help the clinician and family decide which family members would be the most informative for VUS reclassification. However, this may vary depending on specific cases, and the decision on which family members to test is up to the clinician’s discretion. Please note that clearly delineating when a relative is affected vs. unaffected is crucial in helping Invitae reclassify VUS. Affected relatives undergoing VUS resolution must be accompanied by a detailed clinical history or clinic note.*
Autosomal dominant | Autosomal recessive | X-linked; male proband | X-linked; female proband | |
Most helpful |
Both parents OR affected first-, second-, or third-degree relatives on the same side of the family |
Both parents + 1 first-degree affected relative |
Mother + affected male sibling or maternal relative |
2 affected first-, second-, or third degree relatives on the same side of the family |
Both parents | Both parents | Mother only | Both parents | |
One parent | Affected or unaffected siblings | Mother + unaffected brother | Unaffected brother(s) or son(s) | |
Unaffected siblings or children** | Unaffected children | |||
Affected second-degree relatives | ||||
Least helpful | Unaffected second-degree relatives** |
*If these documents are not included, reclassification of a variant will be unlikely. A patient’s clinical features are used to aid in variant reclassification. In some cases, only certain phenotypes will assist in variant reclassification, or the patient must meet clearly defined diagnostic criteria.
**Unaffected relatives should be older than the typical age of onset for disease.