Criteria Specification (CSpec) Registry is intended to provide access to the Criteria Specifications used and applied by ClinGen Variant Curation Expert Panels and biocurators in the classification of variants.
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Criteria & Strength Specifications
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PVS1 | ||||
Original ACMG Summary
Null variant (nonsense, frameshift, canonical +/−1 or 2 splice sites, initiation codon, single or multi-exon deletion) in a gene where loss of function (LOF) is a known mechanism of disease.
Caveats: • Beware of genes where LOF is not a known disease mechanism (e.g. GFAP, MYH7). • Use caution interpreting LOF variants at the extreme 3’ end of a gene. • Use caution with splice variants that are predicted to lead to exon skipping but leave the remainder of the protein intact. • Use caution in the presence of multiple transcripts. Stand Alone
Very Strong
Strong
Moderate
Supporting
Not Applicable
Comments:
Does not apply.
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PS1 | ||||
Original ACMG Summary
Same amino acid change as a previously established pathogenic variant regardless of nucleotide change.
Example: Val->Leu caused by either G>C or G>T in the same codon. Caveat: Beware of changes that impact splicing rather than at the amino acid/protein level. Stand Alone
Very Strong
Strong
Moderate
Supporting
Same amino acid change as a previously established pathogenic variant regardless of nucleotide change.
Modification Type:
Gene-specific,Strength
Not Applicable
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PS2 | ||||
Original ACMG Summary
De novo (both maternity and paternity confirmed) in a patient with the disease and no family history.
Note: Confirmation of paternity only is insufficient. Egg donation, surrogate motherhood, errors in embryo transfer, etc. can contribute to non-maternity.
VCEP Specifications:
The following guidelines should be used when determining the phenotypic consistency of each proband:
Stand Alone
Very Strong
Use ClinGen SVI recommendations for de novo criteria (see instructions below).
Modification Type:
Disease-specific,Strength
Strong
Use ClinGen SVI recommendations for de novo criteria (see instructions below).
Modification Type:
Disease-specific,Strength
Moderate
Use ClinGen SVI recommendations for de novo criteria (see instructions below).
Modification Type:
Disease-specific,Strength
Supporting
Use ClinGen SVI recommendations for de novo criteria (see instructions below).
Modification Type:
Disease-specific,Strength
Not Applicable
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PS3 | ||||
Original ACMG Summary
Well-established in vitro or in vivo functional studies supportive of a damaging effect on the gene or gene product.
Note: Functional studies that have been validated and shown to be reproducible and robust in a clinical diagnostic laboratory setting are considered the most well-established.
VCEP Specifications:
PS3 may be applied when RT/PCR or RNA evidence indicates variant results in absent expression. Stand Alone
Very Strong
Strong
PS3 may potentially be applied at the default strength level of strong for evidence from an animal model expressing the variant of interest and recapitulating the Cartilage-hair hypoplasia (CHH) phenotype. Animal models will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis by the VCEP to determine the appropriate strength level.
Modification Type:
Gene-specific
Moderate
Supporting
PS3_Supporting can be applied based on an abnormal result in at least one approved in vitro assay. Approved assay instances:
At least one previously observed proband with the expressed RMRP variant meeting PP4 is required to apply PS3 at any strength.
Modification Type:
Disease-specific,Strength
Not Applicable
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PS4 | ||||
Original ACMG Summary
The prevalence of the variant in affected individuals is significantly increased compared to the prevalence in controls.
Note 1: Relative risk (RR) or odds ratio (OR), as obtained from case-control studies, is >5.0 and the confidence interval around the estimate of RR or OR does not include 1.0. See manuscript for detailed guidance. Note 2: In instances of very rare variants where case-control studies may not reach statistical significance, the prior observation of the variant in multiple unrelated patients with the same phenotype, and its absence in controls, may be used as moderate level of evidence. Stand Alone
Very Strong
Strong
Moderate
Supporting
Not Applicable
Comments:
Does not apply.
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PM1 | ||||
Original ACMG Summary
Located in a mutational hot spot and/or critical and well-established functional domain (e.g. active site of an enzyme) without benign variation.
Stand Alone
Very Strong
Strong
Modification Type:
Gene-specific
Moderate
Supporting
Not Applicable
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PM2 | ||||
Original ACMG Summary
Absent from controls (or at extremely low frequency if recessive) in Exome Sequencing Project, 1000 Genomes or Exome Aggregation Consortium.
Caveat: Population data for indels may be poorly called by next generation sequencing. Stand Alone
Very Strong
Strong
Moderate
Supporting
Absent in population databases (or at extremely low frequency if recessive).
The applicability of PM2 to suspected founder variants with allele frequencies exceeding the PM2 threshold will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis by the VCEP.
Modification Type:
Disease-specific,Strength
Not Applicable
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PM3 | ||||
Original ACMG Summary
For recessive disorders, detected in trans with a pathogenic variant
Note: This requires testing of parents (or offspring) to determine phase.
VCEP Specifications:
Caveat: All variants should be sufficiently rare - variant does not have to meet PM2 specification criteria but variant should not meet BS1/BA1 criteria (unless a suspected founder variant). The applicability of PM3 to suspected founder variants exceeding the BS1/BA1 threshold will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis by the VCEP. Stand Alone
Very Strong
Use ClinGen SVI recommendations for in trans criterion with the additional requirement that the co-occurring variant must be classified using the SCID VCEP specifications for RMRP.
Modification Type:
General recommendation,Strength
Strong
Use ClinGen SVI recommendations for in trans criterion with the additional requirement that the co-occurring variant must be classified using the SCID VCEP specifications for RMRP.
Modification Type:
General recommendation,Strength
Moderate
Use ClinGen SVI recommendations for in trans criterion with the additional requirement that the co-occurring variant must be classified using the SCID VCEP specifications for RMRP.
Modification Type:
General recommendation
Supporting
Use ClinGen SVI recommendations for in trans criterion with the additional requirement that the co-occurring variant must be classified using the SCID VCEP specifications for RMRP.
Modification Type:
General recommendation,Strength
Not Applicable
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PM4 | ||||
Original ACMG Summary
Protein length changes due to in-frame deletions/insertions in a non-repeat region or stop-loss variants.
Stand Alone
Very Strong
Strong
Moderate
Modification Type:
Gene-specific
Supporting
Not Applicable
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PM5 | ||||
Original ACMG Summary
Novel missense change at an amino acid residue where a different missense change determined to be pathogenic has been seen before.
Example: Arg156His is pathogenic; now you observe Arg156Cys. Caveat: Beware of changes that impact splicing rather than at the amino acid/protein level. Stand Alone
Very Strong
Strong
Moderate
Supporting
Not Applicable
Comments:
Does not apply.
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PM6 | ||||
Original ACMG Summary
Assumed de novo, but without confirmation of paternity and maternity.
VCEP Specifications:
The following guidelines should be used when determining the phenotypic consistency of each proband:
Stand Alone
Very Strong
Strong
Use ClinGen SVI recommendations for de novo criteria (see instructions below).
Modification Type:
Disease-specific,Strength
Moderate
Use ClinGen SVI recommendations for de novo criteria (see instructions below).
Modification Type:
Disease-specific,Strength
Supporting
Use ClinGen SVI recommendations for de novo criteria (see instructions below).
Modification Type:
Disease-specific,Strength
Not Applicable
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PP1 | ||||
Original ACMG Summary
Co-segregation with disease in multiple affected family members in a gene definitively known to cause the disease.
Note: May be used as stronger evidence with increasing segregation data.
VCEP Specifications:
Use ClinGen SVI recommendations for co-segregation criterion (PMID: 30311386) with the additional specification that unaffected individuals contributing to the calculated LOD score (Attached document: PP1 specifications) must be heterozygous carriers of one of the variants observed in the affected individuals (i.e. do not count wild-type/wild-type, individuals). Stand Alone
Very Strong
Strong
Use recommendations for co-segregation criterion from PMID: 30311386, with strength dependent on number of affected segregations.
Modification Type:
General recommendation,Strength
Moderate
Use recommendations for co-segregation criterion from PMID: 30311386, with strength dependent on number of affected segregations.
Modification Type:
General recommendation,Strength
Supporting
Use recommendations for co-segregation criterion from PMID: 30311386, with strength dependent on number of affected segregations.
Modification Type:
General recommendation,Strength
Not Applicable
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PP2 | ||||
Original ACMG Summary
Missense variant in a gene that has a low rate of benign missense variation and where missense variants are a common mechanism of disease.
Stand Alone
Very Strong
Strong
Moderate
Supporting
Not Applicable
Comments:
Does not apply.
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PP3 | ||||
Original ACMG Summary
Multiple lines of computational evidence support a deleterious effect on the gene or gene product (conservation, evolutionary, splicing impact, etc.).
Caveat: As many in silico algorithms use the same or very similar input for their predictions, each algorithm should not be counted as an independent criterion. PP3 can be used only once in any evaluation of a variant. Stand Alone
Very Strong
Strong
Moderate
Supporting
Multiple lines of computational evidence support a deleterious effect on the gene or gene product (conservation, evolutionary, splicing impact, etc).
The p-value threshold significance should be considered 0.1 according to Sabarinathan et al., 2013. PMID: 23315997. If the value is less than 0.1, apply PP3 as a supporting level of evidence.
Modification Type:
Gene-specific,Strength
Not Applicable
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PP4 | ||||
Original ACMG Summary
Patient’s phenotype or family history is highly specific for a disease with a single genetic etiology.
VCEP Specifications:
PP4 applicability and strength is determined by the total points accumulated by a single affected individual according to the list below and the following total point ranges: <1 point: PP4 not met 1-<2 points: PP4 ≥2 points: PP4_Moderate Diagnostic criteria for SCID/Leaky SCID/Omenn syndrome met1 1pt SCID gene panel or exome/genome sequencing conducted (only applicable if genetic testing did not provide an alternative genetic explanation for SCID/Leaky SCID/Omenn syndrome phenotype) 0.5pt Family history of SCID 0.5pt Family history of CHH 1pt Metaphyseal dysplasia (disproportionate short stature + radiographic evidence) 1pt Skeletal dysplasia gene panel or WES/WGS conducted with no alternative genetic diagnosis 1pt Hypotrichosis 0.5 pt Macrocytic, hypoplastic anemia 0.25pt Hirschsprung disease or congenital megacolon 0.25pt T-cell lymphopenia* (see notes) 0.5 pt 1The diagnostic criteria should follow the PIDTC 2022 specification, summarized here. *Notes:
Stand Alone
Very Strong
Strong
Moderate
A patient score of ≥2 points (see instructions below).
Modification Type:
Disease-specific,Gene-specific,Strength
Supporting
A patient score of 1-<2 points (see instructions below).
Modification Type:
Disease-specific,Gene-specific
Not Applicable
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PP5 | ||||
Original ACMG Summary
Reputable source recently reports variant as pathogenic, but the evidence is not available to the laboratory to perform an independent evaluation.
Not Applicable
This criterion is not for use as recommended by the ClinGen Sequence Variant Interpretation VCEP Review Committee.
PubMed : 29543229
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BA1 | ||||
Original ACMG Summary
Allele frequency is above 5% in Exome Sequencing Project, 1000 Genomes or Exome Aggregation Consortium.
Stand Alone
Common in population databases.
Modification Type:
Disease-specific
Very Strong
Strong
Moderate
Supporting
Not Applicable
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BS1 | ||||
Original ACMG Summary
Allele frequency is greater than expected for disorder.
Stand Alone
Very Strong
Strong
Allele frequency is greater than expected for disorder.
Use caution when applying BS1 based on allele frequencies derived from gnomAD exome sequencing given the reduced coverage of certain regions of RMRP. Ensure at least 20X read depth for allele frequencies derived from exome sequencing.
Modification Type:
Disease-specific
Moderate
Supporting
Not Applicable
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BS2 | ||||
Original ACMG Summary
Observed in a healthy adult individual for a recessive (homozygous), dominant (heterozygous), or X-linked (hemizygous) disorder, with full penetrance expected at an early age.
Stand Alone
Very Strong
Strong
BS2_Strong: Observed in >=3 (3 or more) homozygotes in gnomAD.
Modification Type:
Gene-specific,Strength
Moderate
Supporting
BS2_Supporting: Can be applied at Supporting level of evidence if observed at least 2 homozygotes in gnomAD.
Modification Type:
Gene-specific,Strength
Not Applicable
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BS3 | ||||
Original ACMG Summary
Well-established in vitro or in vivo functional studies show no damaging effect on protein function or splicing.
Stand Alone
Very Strong
Strong
Moderate
Supporting
Not Applicable
Comments:
Does not apply.
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BS4 | ||||
Original ACMG Summary
Lack of segregation in affected members of a family.
Caveat: The presence of phenocopies for common phenotypes (i.e. cancer, epilepsy) can mimic lack of segregation among affected individuals. Also, families may have more than one pathogenic variant contributing to an autosomal dominant disorder, further confounding an apparent lack of segregation. Stand Alone
Very Strong
Strong
Can be applied without additional specifications. To apply the BS4 criteria, it is sufficient to have one affected family member without the segregation of the variant.
Modification Type:
None
Moderate
Supporting
Not Applicable
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BP1 | ||||
Original ACMG Summary
Missense variant in a gene for which primarily truncating variants are known to cause disease.
Stand Alone
Very Strong
Strong
Moderate
Supporting
Not Applicable
Comments:
Does not apply.
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BP2 | ||||
Original ACMG Summary
Observed in trans with a pathogenic variant for a fully penetrant dominant gene/disorder or observed in cis with a pathogenic variant in any inheritance pattern.
Stand Alone
Very Strong
Strong
Moderate
Supporting
Not Applicable
Comments:
Does not apply.
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BP3 | ||||
Original ACMG Summary
In frame-deletions/insertions in a repetitive region without a known function.
Stand Alone
Very Strong
Strong
Moderate
Supporting
Not Applicable
Comments:
Does not apply.
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BP4 | ||||
Original ACMG Summary
Multiple lines of computational evidence suggest no impact on gene or gene product (conservation, evolutionary, splicing impact, etc)
Caveat: As many in silico algorithms use the same or very similar input for their predictions, each algorithm cannot be counted as an independent criterion. BP4 can be used only once in any evaluation of a variant. Stand Alone
Very Strong
Strong
Moderate
Supporting
Not Applicable
Comments:
Does not apply.
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BP5 | ||||
Original ACMG Summary
Variant found in a case with an alternate molecular basis for disease.
Stand Alone
Very Strong
Strong
Moderate
Supporting
Not Applicable
Comments:
Does not apply.
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BP6 | ||||
Original ACMG Summary
Reputable source recently reports variant as benign, but the evidence is not available to the laboratory to perform an independent evaluation.
Not Applicable
This criterion is not for use as recommended by the ClinGen Sequence Variant Interpretation VCEP Review Committee.
PubMed : 29543229
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BP7 | ||||
Original ACMG Summary
A synonymous variant for which splicing prediction algorithms predict no impact to the splice consensus sequence nor the creation of a new splice site AND the nucleotide is not highly conserved.
Stand Alone
Very Strong
Strong
Moderate
Supporting
Not Applicable
Comments:
Does not apply.
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