1. Shariant platform: Enabling evidence sharing across Australian clinical genetic-testing laboratories to support variant interpretation
- Author
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Emma Tudini, James Andrews, David M. Lawrence, Sarah L. King-Smith, Naomi Baker, Leanne Baxter, John Beilby, Bruce Bennetts, Victoria Beshay, Michael Black, Tiffany F. Boughtwood, Kristian Brion, Pak Leng Cheong, Michael Christie, John Christodoulou, Belinda Chong, Kathy Cox, Mark R. Davis, Lucas Dejong, Marcel E. Dinger, Kenneth D. Doig, Evelyn Douglas, Andrew Dubowsky, Melissa Ellul, Andrew Fellowes, Katrina Fisk, Cristina Fortuno, Kathryn Friend, Renee L. Gallagher, Song Gao, Emma Hackett, Johanna Hadler, Michael Hipwell, Gladys Ho, Georgina Hollway, Amanda J. Hooper, Karin S. Kassahn, Rahul Krishnaraj, Chiyan Lau, Huong Le, Huei San Leong, Ben Lundie, Sebastian Lunke, Anthony Marty, Mary McPhillips, Lan T. Nguyen, Katia Nones, Kristen Palmer, John V. Pearson, Michael C.J. Quinn, Lesley H. Rawlings, Simon Sadedin, Louisa Sanchez, Andreas W. Schreiber, Emanouil Sigalas, Aygul Simsek, Julien Soubrier, Zornitza Stark, Bryony A. Thompson, James U, Cassandra G. Vakulin, Amanda V. Wells, Cheryl A. Wise, Rick Woods, Andrew Ziolkowski, Marie-Jo Brion, Hamish S. Scott, Natalie P. Thorne, Amanda B. Spurdle, Lauren Akesson, Richard Allcock, Katie Ashton, Damon A. Bell, Anna Brown, Michael Buckley, John R. Burnett, Linda Burrows, Alicia Byrne, Eva Chan, Corrina Cliffe, Roderick Clifton-Bligh, Susan Dooley, Miriam Fanjul Fernandez, Elizabeth Farnsworth, Thuong Ha, Denae Henry, Duncan Holds, Katherine Holman, Matilda Jackson, Sinlay Kang, Catherine Luxford, Sam McManus, Rachael Mehrtens, Cliff Meldrum, David Mossman, Sarah-Jane Pantaleo, Dean Phelan, Electra Pontikinas, Anja Ravine, Tony Roscioli, Rodney Scott, Keryn Simons, Oliver Vanwageningen, Tudini, Emma, Andrews, James, Lawrence, David M., King-Smith, Sarah L., Schreiber, Andreas W, James, U, and Shariant Consortium
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genomic variant ,variant interpretations ,Databases, Genetic ,Technology Review ,Genetics ,Australia ,Humans ,Genetic Variation ,Genetic Testing ,Laboratories ,Genetics (clinical) ,Australian laboratories - Abstract
Sharing genomic variant interpretations across laboratories promotes consistency in variant assertions. A landscape analysis of Australian clinical genetic-testing laboratories in 2017 identified that, despite the national-accreditation-body recommendations encouraging laboratories to submit genotypic data to clinical databases, fewer than 300 variants had been shared to the ClinVar public database. Consultations with Australian laboratories identified resource constraints limiting routine application of manual processes, consent issues, and differences in interpretation systems as barriers to sharing. This information was used to define key needs and solutions required to enable national sharing of variant interpretations. The Shariant platform, using both the GRCh37 and GRCh38 genome builds, was developed to enable ongoing sharing of variant interpretations and associated evidence between Australian clinical genetic-testing laboratories. Where possible, two-way automated sharing was implemented so that disruption to laboratory workflows would be minimized. Terms of use were developed through consultation and currently restrict access to Australian clinical genetic-testing laboratories. Shariant was designed to store and compare structured evidence, to promote and record resolution of inter-laboratory classification discrepancies, and to streamline the submission of variant assertions to ClinVar. As of December 2021, more than 14,000 largely prospectively curated variant records from 11 participating laboratories have been shared. Discrepant classifications have been identified for 11% (28/260) of variants submitted by more than one laboratory. We have demonstrated that co-design with clinical laboratories is vital to developing and implementing a national variant-interpretation sharing effort. This approach has improved inter-laboratory concordance and enabled opportunities to standardize interpretation practices.
- Published
- 2022