Abstract
DNA-based testing for genetic diseases has developed from nothing into a principal part of laboratory medicine over the past 15 years. In the rush to bring these powerful new technologies into medical use, issues of quality have not always been given sufficient attention. Efforts are now being made to assess the quality of the output of genetic testing laboratories, and the results show that there is room for improvement.
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Acknowledgements
We thank R. Elles for critical reading of the manuscript. EMQN is supported by the Standards Measurement and Testing programme of the European Union. The European Concerted Action on Cystic Fibrosis is supported by The EU Biomed Programme, and by contract under the EU Fifth Framework Programme.
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FURTHER INFORMATION
European Molecular Genetics Quality Network
Clinical Molecular Genetics Society
UK National External Quality Assessment Scheme
European Cystic Fibrosis Network
College of American Pathologists
American College of Medical Genetics
The Council for Professions Supplementary to Medicine
National Center for Clinical Laboratory Standards
American Society of Human Genetics
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Dequeker, E., Ramsden, S., Grody, W. et al. Quality control in molecular genetic testing. Nat Rev Genet 2, 717–723 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1038/35088588
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/35088588
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