As a partner in the BRCA Share initiative for breast-cancer genetic data, we wish to clarify our position (see Nature 520, 585; 2015).

Quest Diagnostics tests one in three US adults annually, including for BRCA gene mutations. We support open-access sharing of these data, once the complexities of uploading so many records can be resolved.

A final test run for uploading Quest data to the Leiden Open Variation Database (LOVD) is now complete. Contrary to your implication, we anticipate that the publicly available database funded by the US National Institutes of Health, ClinVar, will eventually have access to these data because of a reciprocal relationship with the LOVD.

Industry is often criticized for not giving back. Labs that make revenue from BRCA testing pay to participate in BRCA Share; academic scientists and entities do so for free. This reduces the need for public funding to improve BRCA tests. Some of the fees will go to functional studies of BRCA variants. BRCA Share also raises the bar of responsibility for commercial labs.