Evidence from 2100 index cases supports genome sequencing as a first-tier genetic test

Abstract

Purpose

Genome sequencing (GS) is one of the most comprehensive assays that interrogate single-nucleotide variants, copy number variants, mitochondrial variants, repeat expansions, and structural variants in a single assay. Despite the clear technical superiority, the full clinical utility of GS has yet to be determined.

Methods

We systematically evaluated 2100 clinical GS index cases performed in our laboratory to explore the diagnostic yield of GS as first-tier and as follow-up testing.

Results

The overall diagnostic yield was 28% (585/2100). The diagnostic yield for GS as the first-tier test was 26% (294/1146). Among cases with prior non-diagnostic genetic tests, GS provided a diagnosis for 27% (247/910) of cases, including 56 cases with prior exome sequencing (ES). Although re-analysis of previous ES might have resolved the diagnosis in 29 cases, diagnoses for 27 cases would have been missed because of the technical inferiority of ES. Moreover, GS further disclosed additional genetic etiology in 3 out of 44 cases with existing partial diagnosis.

Conclusion

We present the largest-to-date GS data set of a clinically heterogeneous cohort from a single clinical laboratory. Our data demonstrate that GS should be considered as the first-tier genetic test that has the potential to shorten the diagnostic odyssey.