Uploaded February 2024 | Updated September 2026, 3 minutes ago

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Through genetic testing, Andrea Alvarez found out that she had a BRCA2 variant. To Andrea, this result saved her life.

A secondary finding occurs when a genetic test shows an unexpected results that could be important for a person's health. NHGRI is working on a new study to understand how to best support people who receive secondary findings. The researchers are recruiting people who have received unexpected genetic test results about their risk for cancer, heart disease, and other conditions after having genetic testing done for other reasons.

If you or a member of your family have been given a secondary result, please consider partnering with us on this research. Together, we hope to understand the health impacts of secondary findings on you and your family and discover ways to better support people like you.

Learn more: genome.gov/gsrp

Credits:
Producer/Writer/Director/Interviewer: Mauresa Pittman, NHGRI
Videographer/Animator/Editor: Ernesto Del Aguila III, NHGRI
Cameraperson/Lighting/Audio: Alvaro Encinas, NHGRI
Starring: Andrea Alvarez, Study Participant