Whole genome sequencing (WGS) is available for specific clinical indications in the Rare and Inherited Disease Test Directory through the national Genomic Medicine Service.
Rare Disease Clinical Indications tested using WGS are listed in the National Test Directory for Rare and Inherited Disease (opens in a new tab) (indicated by 'WGS' in the test method.
Prior to ordering a WGS test, clinicians should complete Patient Choice Consent Framework training which can be accessed via the East GLH Patient Choice online training program. (opens in a new tab) The patient choice conversation can be performed remotely and the form submitted without a patient signature – please tick the “Remote consent” section of the form to indicate this.
Flow charts for clinicians are included below; there is a specific flow chart for clinicians at Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (CUH) who should use EPIC to request a WGS test.
Please send completed Test Order Form and Record of Discussion Forms to emee.glh@nhs.net, and include “WGS Rare Disease” in the subject heading.
If you have not ordered a WGS test before you may find the step by step Clinical Guidelines document below helpful.
Order form and Record of Discussion (RoD) form
All the forms you need for whole genome sequencing, including patient information leaflets, can be found here.
Samples
Please arrange for samples to be taken and sent to the Leicester, Nottingham or Cambridge Laboratories using your local test request process and forms.
Clearly indicate 'WGS for Rare Disease” on the form. If a DNA sample is already stored, please refer to the detailed information document below.
National Genomic Research Library
Patients who are being tested using WGS can choose to contribute to the National Genomic Research Library.
R89 - Ultra-rare and atypical monogenic disorders
Note for Clinical Geneticists: Where indicated, a WGS test may be ordered using the R89 (Ultra-rare and aytpical monogenic disorders) Clinical Indication. The list of gene panels available for R89 are below.