The NHS England Jewish BRCA Testing Programme: overview after first year of implementation (2023-2024)

The NHS Jewish BRCA Testing Programme is offering germline BRCA1 and BRCA2 genetic testing to people with ≥1 Jewish grandparent. Who have an increased likelihood of having an Ashkenazi Jewish (AJ) founder germline pathogenic variant (gPV) compared with the general population.Testing is offered via a self-referral, home-based saliva sampling pathway, supported by a genetic counsellor telephone helpline. A first-of-its-kind in the United Kingdom (UK) for population genetic testing, outside of research.

We reviewed data from germline testing of 5389 people who registered during the soft-launch phase (January 2023-January 2024) and their families to observe trends in uptake and outcomes of testing.

Of the 5389 self-referrals, 4339 (80.5%) consented to testing. Of those with results returned, 2.3% (98/4,274) had a gPV (89.8% AJ founder and 10.2% non-AJ founder).Notably, the detection rate was higher in men (42/790, 5.3%) compared with women (56/3484, 1.6%), with the proportion reporting known BRCA variants within the family prior to consent also significantly increased (13.1% compared with 9.2%, respectively).

Overall detection rates of gPVs are similar to those reported elsewhere from Jewish population testing. The pathway, particularly for males, may attract uptake of testing by those previously aware of familial gPVs.