Disclaimer

Last Updated: January 9, 2026

CRITICAL WARNING - NOT FOR CLINICAL USE

ATGCFLOW IS A RESEARCH PLATFORM ONLY AND IS NOT INTENDED FOR:

  • Clinical diagnosis or treatment decisions
  • Patient care or medical advice
  • Diagnostic testing in a clinical laboratory
  • Replacing professional medical consultation

DO NOT make any medical decisions based on results from this platform. All findings must be validated through certified clinical laboratories before any clinical application.

1. General Disclaimer

The information provided by ATGCFLOW is for research and educational purposes only. While we strive to provide accurate and reliable analysis results using industry-standard bioinformatics tools and best practices, we make no representations or warranties of any kind regarding:

  • The accuracy, completeness, or reliability of analysis results
  • The suitability of results for any particular purpose
  • The interpretation or clinical significance of variants
  • The quality or validity of uploaded sequencing data

2. Research Use Only

Research Platform Status:

ATGCFLOW is designed and maintained exclusively for research purposes. It has NOT been:

  • Validated for clinical use or diagnostic purposes
  • Approved by any regulatory authority (FDA, CLIA, CAP, etc.)
  • Certified for use in clinical decision-making
  • Subjected to clinical validation studies

3. No Medical Advice

ATGCFLOW does NOT provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment recommendations. The platform:

  • Does not replace consultation with qualified healthcare professionals
  • Should not be used to diagnose or treat any medical condition
  • Does not constitute a doctor-patient relationship
  • Cannot be relied upon for clinical decision-making

Always seek the advice of qualified healthcare providers with any questions regarding medical conditions or genetic findings. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of information from ATGCFLOW.

4. Analysis Limitations

4.1 Technical Limitations

Whole exome sequencing and bioinformatics analysis have inherent limitations:

  • Coverage Limitations: Not all genomic regions are equally covered
  • Variant Detection: Some variant types may not be detected (e.g., large structural variants, repeat expansions)
  • False Positives/Negatives: Analysis may produce false positive or false negative results
  • Annotation Accuracy: Variant annotations depend on database completeness and accuracy
  • Interpretation Complexity: Genetic variants have complex interpretations that evolve with scientific knowledge

4.2 ACMG Classification Limitations

The ACMG variant classification provided by ATGCFLOW:

  • Is automated and may not capture all relevant clinical context
  • Should be reviewed by certified genetic counselors or clinical geneticists
  • May change as new scientific evidence emerges
  • Does not replace manual curation by experts
  • May not follow the latest ACMG/AMP guidelines updates

5. Third-Party Tools and Databases

ATGCFLOW integrates various third-party bioinformatics tools and databases:

  • Variant calling and processing tools: For alignment, variant detection, and post-processing
  • Variant annotation engine: For functional annotation of detected variants
  • gnomAD, ClinVar, dbSNP: For population frequencies and clinical annotations
  • Prediction tools: For computational pathogenicity and functional-impact scoring

We are not responsible for the accuracy, reliability, or availability of these third-party tools and databases. Each tool has its own limitations and should be used according to its respective documentation and licenses.

6. Data Quality and User Responsibility

Analysis results are highly dependent on input data quality. Users are responsible for:

  • Ensuring sequencing data meets quality standards
  • Verifying proper sample preparation and sequencing protocols
  • Confirming appropriate reference genome usage (hg38)
  • Validating results through orthogonal methods
  • Obtaining all necessary consents and permissions for data use

7. No Warranty

ATGCFLOW IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF:

  • Merchantability
  • Fitness for a particular purpose
  • Non-infringement
  • Accuracy or completeness
  • Reliability or availability

8. Limitation of Liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, ATGCFLOW AND ITS OPERATORS SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES ARISING FROM:

  • Use or inability to use the platform
  • Reliance on analysis results
  • Errors, inaccuracies, or omissions in results
  • Data loss or corruption
  • Service interruptions or downtime
  • Any medical decisions or actions taken based on platform results

9. Regulatory Compliance

Users are responsible for ensuring their use of ATGCFLOW complies with all applicable regulations:

  • HIPAA (USA): If handling protected health information
  • GDPR (EU): If processing EU citizens' genetic data
  • CLIA/CAP (USA): Clinical laboratories must use certified platforms
  • IRB Approval: Research studies may require institutional review board approval
  • Informed Consent: Proper consent must be obtained for genetic testing

10. Updates and Changes

This disclaimer may be updated periodically to reflect:

  • Changes in platform capabilities
  • Updates to integrated tools and databases
  • New regulatory requirements
  • Evolving best practices in bioinformatics

Continued use of ATGCFLOW after updates constitutes acceptance of the revised disclaimer.

11. Validation Requirements

Before Clinical Application:

Any finding from ATGCFLOW that may have clinical implications MUST be:

  • Confirmed through a CLIA-certified clinical laboratory
  • Validated using orthogonal sequencing methods (e.g., Sanger sequencing)
  • Interpreted by board-certified genetic counselors or clinical geneticists
  • Considered in the context of patient phenotype and family history
  • Discussed with the patient's healthcare provider

12. Contact Information

If you have questions about this disclaimer, please contact us:

Email: [email protected]
Platform: ATGCFLOW
Type: Research Platform - Not for Clinical Use

BY USING ATGCFLOW, YOU ACKNOWLEDGE AND AGREE THAT THIS IS A RESEARCH PLATFORM NOT INTENDED FOR CLINICAL USE. YOU ASSUME ALL RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH USE OF THE PLATFORM AND AGREE NOT TO MAKE MEDICAL DECISIONS BASED ON ANALYSIS RESULTS WITHOUT PROPER VALIDATION THROUGH CERTIFIED CLINICAL LABORATORIES.