Information About TIGeR

Testing through TIGeR is currently limited to geneticists working with the Calgary and Edmonton Genetics Clinics. It is not available to community geneticists or other specialists. For questions about specific cases, please reach out to the TIGeR team.

TIGeR offers clinical whole exome sequencing (ES) and the following panels: Ataxia; Charcot-Marie-Tooth, Complex Immune Dysregulation; Epilepsy; Growth and Related Disorders; Movement Disorders; Retinal Dystrophy; Spastic Paraplegia. The gene content for these panels is available as part of the order form, and in a separate document.

Yes. Although TIGeR is working closely with APL, it is considered an external laboratory and funding approval will be required.

The forms can be found on the Provincial Genetics Drive, inside the TIGeR Team folder. We have requested for all clinicians to have access to the specific folder, but it may be several weeks before you receive access. You can also email us for copies of the forms.

• Patients with a valid Alberta Healthcare Card who are undergoing one of the tests offered by TIGeR, AND
• The test must meet GRC criteria as GRC funding is needed, AND
• The ordering geneticist works in Calgary Genetics or Edmonton Genetics (has U of A or U of C affiliation), AND
• Patients and relevant family members (if applicable) are in Alberta and can have their blood drawn for testing. Saliva may be accepted for parents of a proband (please see below for additional information)

The following are required:

• Completed GRC funding application and blood draw requisition Tiger.Team@albertaprecisionlabs.ca
• Completed TIGeR consent form, signed by the patient. Although TIGeR does not require this form to be submitted to us, the clinician is responsible for the accuracy of the patients’ decisions indicated on the order form.
• Completed TIGeR order form including:
  • The patient and family members’ decisions regarding reporting of secondary findings  
  • The patient and family members’ decisions regarding being contacted for future research
  • Human Phenotype Ontology (HPO) terms approved by the ordering geneticist. If the order form is submitted without HPO terms, the TIGeR genetic counsellor will send a suggested list to the ordering geneticist by email. Analysis will be based on HPO terms.

The following are required:

• Completed GRC funding application and blood draw requisition
• Completed TIGeR order form that includes all clinical findings. HPO terms are not required for panels. Secondary findings are not reported as part of panels.
• By submitting the TIGeR order form, the healthcare provider confirms that they have provided pretest counselling. However, if the patient has opted to consent for future contact for research and/or future research database, a TIGeR consent form should be completed and kept on their clinical chart. As with exomes, TIGeR does not need a copy of the consent form and it is the clinician’s responsibility to accurately reflect the patient’s decision on the TIGeR order form.

Currently, we will not be able to accept urgent cases until further notice. 

• Whole blood (EDTA).
• Banked DNA is accepted at this time – please email us to ensure the banked DNA is acceptable for our test.
• Saliva samples are not accepted at this time.
• Buccal swabs are not accepted at this time.
• Prenatal samples are not accepted at this time.

Tiger.Team@albertaprecisionlabs.ca

It depends on which external lab completed the panel and when the panel was done. For cases where a patient had a panel performed on an exome backbone at an external lab (within the last two years), it is more cost effective to proceed with "expand to exome' through the external lab instead of TIGeR. If the patient does not qualify for "expand to exome" pricing, then you can send your case to TIGeR. If you need additional information, please contact the GRC.