If genome sequencing is performed in health care, in theory the opportunity arises to take a further look at the data: opportunistic genomic screening (OGS). The European Society of Human Genetics (ESHG) in 2013 recommended that genome analysis should be restricted to the original health problem at least for the time being. Other organizations have argued that ‘actionable’ genetic variants should or could be reported (including American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics, French Society of Predictive and Personalized Medicine, Genomics England). They argue that the opportunity should be used to routinely and systematically look for secondary findings—so-called opportunistic screening. From a normative perspective, the distinguishing characteristic of screening is not so much its context (whether public health or health care), but the lack of an indication for having this specific test or investigation in those to whom screening is offered. Screening entails a more precarious benefits-to-risks balance. The ESHG continues to recommend a cautious approach to opportunistic screening. Proportionality and autonomy must be guaranteed, and in collectively funded health-care systems the potential benefits must be balanced against health care expenditures. With regard to genome sequencing in pediatrics, ESHG argues that it is premature to look for later-onset conditions in children. Counseling should be offered and informed consent is and should be a central ethical norm. Depending on developing evidence on penetrance, actionability, and available resources, OGS pilots may be justified to generate data for a future, informed, comparative analysis of OGS and its main alternatives, such as cascade testing.

In 2016, guidelines for diagnostic Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) have been published by EuroGentest in order to assist laboratories in the implementation and accreditation of NGS in a diagnostic setting. These guidelines mainly focused on Whole Exome Sequencing (WES) and targeted (gene panels) sequencing detecting small germline variants (Single Nucleotide Variants (SNVs) and insertions/deletions (indels)). Since then, Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) has been increasingly introduced in the diagnosis of rare diseases as WGS allows the simultaneous detection of SNVs, Structural Variants (SVs) and other types of variants such as repeat expansions. The use of WGS in diagnostics warrants the re-evaluation and update of previously published guidelines. This work was jointly initiated by EuroGentest and the Horizon2020 project Solve-RD. Statements from the 2016 guidelines have been reviewed in the context of WGS and updated where necessary. The aim of these recommendations is primarily to list the points to consider for clinical (laboratory) geneticists, bioinformaticians, and (non-)geneticists, to provide technical advice, aid clinical decision-making and the reporting of the results.

Two leading European professional societies, the European Society of Human Genetics and the European Society for Human Reproduction and Embryology, have worked together since 2004 to evaluate the impact of fast research advances at the interface of assisted reproduction and genetics, including their application into clinical practice. In September 2016, the expert panel met for the third time. The topics discussed highlighted important issues covering the impacts of expanded carrier screening, direct-to-consumer genetic testing, voiding of the presumed anonymity of gamete donors by advanced genetic testing, advances in the research of genetic causes underlying male and female infertility, utilisation of massively parallel sequencing in preimplantation genetic testing and non-invasive prenatal screening, mitochondrial replacement in human oocytes, and additionally, issues related to cross-generational epigenetic inheritance following IVF and germline genome editing. The resulting paper represents a consensus of both professional societies involved.

Background  Transfusion‐related acute lung injury (TRALI) is currently one of the most common causes of transfusion‐related major morbidity and death. Among the many TRALI mediators, leucocyte antibodies have been identified as important triggers of severe TRALI.Study Design and Methods  These recommendations were compiled by experts of the ISBT Working Party on Granulocyte Immunobiology, based on the results obtained in eight international granulocyte immunology workshops, their personal experiences and on published study results.Results  Leucocyte antibody screening has to include the detection of human leucocyte antigen (HLA) class I, class II and human neutrophil alloantigen antibodies using established and validated techniques. HLA class I antibody detection should be restricted to antibodies clinically relevant for TRALI. To avoid unnecessary workload, TRALI diagnosis should be assessed by consultation with the reporting clinician and thorough exclusion of transfusion‐associated circulatory overload/cardiac insufficiency. In patients diagnosed with TRALI having donors with detectable leucocyte antibodies, evidence of leucocyte incompatibility should be provided by either cross‐matching or typing of patient for cognate antigen.Conclusion  Leucocyte antibody screening for the immunological clarification of TRALI cases as well as for identification of potentially alloimmunized blood donors is feasible and can be performed in a reasonable and quality assured manner. This practice can contribute to the prevention of antibody‐mediated TRALI.

The high incidence of cystic fibrosis (CF) is due to the frequency of the c.1521_1523delCTT variant in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR), but its age and origin are uncertain. This gap limits attempts to shed light on the presumed heterozygote selective advantage that accounts for the variant’s high prevalence among Caucasian Europeans and Europe-derived populations. In addition, explaining the nature of heterozygosity to screened individuals with one c.1521_1523delCTT variant is challenging when families raise questions about these issues. To address this gap, we obtained DNA samples from 190 patients bearing c.1521_1523delCTT and their parents residing in geographically distinct European populations plus a Germany-derived population in the USA. We identified microsatellites spanning CFTR and reconstructed haplotypes at 10 loci to estimate the time/age of the most recent common ancestor (tMRCA) with the Estiage program. We found that the age estimates differ between northwestern populations, where the mean tMRCA values vary between 4600 and 4725 years, and the southeastern populations where c.1521_1523delCTT seems to have been introduced only about 1000 years ago. The tMRCA values of Central Europeans were intermediate. Thus, our data resolve a controversy by establishing an early Bronze Age origin of the c.1521_1523delCTT allele and demonstrating its likely spread from northwest to southeast during ancient migrations. Moreover, taking the archeological record into account, our results introduce a novel concept by suggesting that Bell Beaker folk were the probable migrating population responsible for the early dissemination of c.1521_1523delCTT in prehistoric Europe.