BRCA Test Results Explained: What Positive, Negative and VUS Results Mean
Receiving the results of a BRCA test can raise many questions. A result may be reported as positive, negative or a variant of uncertain significance (VUS), and each result has a different meaning.
A BRCA test looks for inherited changes in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, which can increase the risk of breast, ovarian and certain other cancers. However, a positive result does not mean that you have cancer, while a negative result does not mean that you have no risk of developing breast cancer.
Understanding the result alongside your personal and family history is important before making decisions about screening or other preventive options.
Quick Answer
A positive BRCA test means a harmful or potentially harmful inherited variant was identified in the genes tested and may indicate an increased risk of certain cancers.
A negative BRCA test means no harmful variant was identified in the genes included in the test. However, the meaning of a negative result depends on whether a known family mutation was already identified.
A VUS (variant of uncertain significance) means there is not enough evidence to determine whether the genetic change affects cancer risk. A VUS generally should not be treated in the same way as a harmful BRCA mutation.
What Are BRCA1 and BRCA2?
BRCA1 and BRCA2 are genes involved in repairing damaged DNA. Certain inherited harmful changes in these genes can interfere with this repair process and increase the likelihood of developing some cancers.
Inherited BRCA1 or BRCA2 variants are particularly associated with increased risks of:
Breast cancer
Ovarian cancer
Male breast cancer
Pancreatic cancer
Certain prostate cancers
The level of risk can vary depending on the specific gene variant, personal history and other factors.
This is why genetic testing for breast cancer is generally interpreted in the context of an individual's personal and family history rather than as a standalone prediction of cancer.
What Does a Positive BRCA Test Mean?
A positive BRCA test generally means that testing identified a pathogenic or likely pathogenic inherited variant in BRCA1 or BRCA2.
This can indicate an increased risk of developing certain cancers compared with someone without the inherited variant.
However, a positive result does not mean that you currently have cancer and does not predict exactly if or when cancer will develop.
The next steps may include discussing:
Your personal cancer history
Your family's cancer history
Appropriate breast or other cancer screening
Whether additional risk-reducing options should be considered
Whether relatives may benefit from genetic testing
Genetic counselling and specialist care
The appropriate approach depends on the individual and should be discussed with a qualified healthcare professional.
Does a Positive BRCA Result Mean I Will Get Cancer?
No. A harmful BRCA1 or BRCA2 variant increases cancer risk, but it does not guarantee that cancer will develop.
For example, the National Cancer Institute reports that more than 60% of women with harmful inherited BRCA1 or BRCA2 variants may develop breast cancer during their lifetime. This means the risk is substantially increased, but it is not certain.
A genetic test therefore provides risk information, not a diagnosis or a guarantee about the future.
What Does a Negative BRCA Test Mean?
A negative BRCA test means that no harmful genetic change was identified in the BRCA genes included in the test.
However, there are different types of negative results.
True Negative
A true negative can occur when a harmful BRCA mutation is already known in a family and the person tested does not carry that specific mutation.
This can provide more informative reassurance about the inherited mutation identified in that family.
Uninformative Negative
An uninformative negative occurs when testing does not identify a harmful BRCA variant, but there is still a strong personal or family history of cancer.
In this situation, the negative result does not necessarily explain why cancer occurs in the family. Other genes, genetic changes not detected by the test, or non-genetic factors may still contribute to cancer risk.
This is why a negative result should always be interpreted alongside family history.
Does a Negative BRCA Test Mean I Cannot Get Breast Cancer?
No. A negative BRCA result does not eliminate the possibility of breast cancer.
Most breast cancers are not caused by inherited BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations. Breast cancer risk can also be influenced by age, family history, reproductive factors, lifestyle, other genetic factors and other causes.
Therefore, a negative BRCA test does not replace recommended breast cancer screening or routine healthcare.
What Is a VUS in BRCA Testing?
VUS stands for Variant of Uncertain Significance.
A VUS means that a genetic change was identified, but there is currently not enough scientific evidence to determine whether that change increases cancer risk.
A VUS is different from a positive pathogenic result.
Importantly, a VUS should generally not be treated as though it were a harmful BRCA mutation when making medical decisions. The National Cancer Institute notes that many VUS findings are eventually reclassified as benign.
Your healthcare professional may instead consider your personal and family history and other established risk factors when deciding what to do next.
Should I Take Action Based on a VUS?
Usually, a VUS should not be used on its own to make major medical decisions.
For example, a VUS should not automatically be interpreted as meaning that you have a high-risk BRCA mutation.
If you receive a VUS result, ask your healthcare professional or genetic counsellor:
What exactly does the result mean?
Is the variant currently classified as uncertain?
Does my family history suggest additional cancer risk?
Should my screening be based on my family history?
Could the classification change in the future?
Genetic information can be updated as scientific knowledge develops, so the interpretation of some variants may change over time.
Why Genetic Counselling Matters With BRCA Testing
Genetic counselling can help you understand whether testing is appropriate and what the results could mean before and after testing.
A genetic counsellor or qualified healthcare professional may review:
Your personal medical history
Your family history
Types of cancer found in the family
The ages at which relatives were diagnosed
Whether cancer occurred on your mother's or father's side
Previous genetic test results
Which type of genetic test may be appropriate
Genetic counselling can also help explain the potential benefits, limitations and implications of genetic testing.
Who May Benefit From BRCA Genetic Testing?
BRCA testing may be considered when personal or family history suggests an increased likelihood of hereditary breast or ovarian cancer.
Factors that can raise suspicion include:
Breast cancer diagnosed at a young age
Several relatives with breast cancer
Ovarian, fallopian tube or primary peritoneal cancer in the family
Male breast cancer
Breast cancer occurring more than once
Breast and ovarian cancer occurring in the same family
A known BRCA mutation in the family
Certain ancestry associated with higher prevalence of BRCA mutations
Both maternal and paternal family history can be relevant.
If you want to understand which family-history patterns may suggest testing, read our guide: 5 Red Flags in Your Family Tree That May Mean You Should Consider a BRCA Test.
Should the Person With Cancer Be Tested First?
When possible, genetic testing is often most informative when it starts with a family member who has had breast, ovarian or another BRCA-associated cancer.
If a harmful inherited variant is identified in that person, other family members can then be tested specifically for the known familial variant.
If an unaffected relative is tested first and receives a negative result, it may be harder to determine whether the family has an unidentified inherited mutation.
A healthcare professional or genetic counsellor can help determine the most informative testing approach for a family.
BRCA Test vs Multigene Panel Testing
BRCA1 and BRCA2 are not the only genes associated with hereditary cancer risk.
Depending on your personal and family history, a healthcare professional may recommend:
BRCA1 and BRCA2 testing alone
A broader hereditary breast cancer panel
A multigene hereditary cancer panel
A multigene panel can evaluate several genes at the same time, but broader testing can also produce additional findings such as VUS results.
The appropriate test depends on the individual's risk profile and the clinical question being investigated.
What Happens After a Positive BRCA Result?
If your BRCA result is positive, the next step is usually interpretation and risk management, not assuming that cancer is present.
Your healthcare professional may discuss:
Your specific genetic result.
Your personal cancer history.
Your family history.
Appropriate screening strategies.
Whether additional specialists should be involved.
Whether relatives may benefit from testing.
Available risk-reduction options where appropriate.
The exact recommendations depend on your individual circumstances.
What Happens After a Negative BRCA Result?
After a negative result, your healthcare professional may consider whether the result is a true negative or an uninformative negative.
If there is still a strong family history of breast or related cancers, further assessment may sometimes be appropriate.
Depending on the circumstances, this could include consideration of:
Additional genetic testing
A broader gene panel
Updated testing if technology or available genetic knowledge has changed
Screening based on personal and family history
The NCI notes that repeat or additional testing may sometimes be appropriate after an uninformative negative result, particularly when new genes or testing technologies become available.
Can BRCA Test Results Change?
Your DNA sequence does not normally change because you received a new test interpretation.
However, the scientific classification of a genetic variant can change as researchers learn more about it.
For example, a VUS may later be reclassified when additional evidence becomes available.
This is one reason genetic testing results should be interpreted using current scientific and clinical information.
Can a BRCA Mutation Be Passed to Children?
Yes. BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations are inherited in an autosomal dominant pattern. If a parent carries a harmful BRCA1 or BRCA2 variant, each child has a 50% chance of inheriting that variant.
Inheriting the variant does not mean that the child will definitely develop cancer. It means that they may have an increased risk of certain cancers.
Testing relatives should be approached carefully, particularly when considering testing for younger family members.
Should Children Be Tested for BRCA Mutations?
BRCA testing is generally focused on situations where the result could meaningfully affect medical management.
Because BRCA-associated cancer risks generally become relevant in adulthood, testing children is not routinely approached in the same way as testing adults at an age when risk-management decisions may be relevant.
Families considering testing for younger relatives should discuss the timing and implications with an appropriately qualified healthcare professional or genetic counsellor.
Be Careful With Direct-to-Consumer BRCA Tests
Not every genetic test available directly to consumers provides a complete assessment of hereditary breast and ovarian cancer risk.
The CDC notes that some direct-to-consumer tests examine only a limited number of BRCA variants and may miss other clinically important variants.
For this reason, people with a significant personal or family history should discuss appropriate testing with a healthcare professional or genetic counsellor rather than relying solely on a consumer genetic test.
BRCA Testing in Dubai and the UAE
For people in Dubai who are considering hereditary breast cancer testing, genetic testing should be approached as part of an overall risk assessment.
Dubai's genomic services framework sets standards for genomic services provided by DHA-licensed facilities and professionals.
If your personal or family history suggests hereditary cancer risk, you can discuss hereditary breast cancer blood testing in the UAE with a healthcare professional.
For other home laboratory services, you can also explore Lab Test at Home.
Questions to Ask Before Taking a BRCA Test
Before testing, consider asking:
Why is BRCA testing being recommended for me?
Does my family history suggest hereditary cancer risk?
Should another family member be tested first?
Will the test examine BRCA1 and BRCA2 only or multiple genes?
What could a positive result mean for me?
What would a negative result mean given my family history?
What happens if I receive a VUS?
Who will explain my results?
Could my result affect recommendations for relatives?
What screening or follow-up might be recommended after testing?
Having these questions answered can help you understand what the test can—and cannot—tell you.
BRCA Testing Is About Risk, Not Certainty
A BRCA test can provide important information about inherited cancer risk, but the result should never be interpreted in isolation.
A positive result can indicate increased hereditary cancer risk, but it does not diagnose cancer.
A negative result means no harmful variant was detected in the genes tested, but it does not eliminate all breast cancer risk.
A VUS means that the significance of the genetic change is currently uncertain and should not automatically be treated as a harmful mutation.
Your personal history, family history and the specific genetic findings all matter when interpreting the result.
When Should You Speak With a Healthcare Professional?
Consider discussing BRCA testing or genetic counselling if you have:
Several relatives with breast cancer
Breast cancer at a young age in your family
Ovarian cancer in the family
Male breast cancer in the family
Breast cancer affecting both breasts
A known BRCA mutation in your family
A personal history that suggests hereditary cancer risk
You can also read our guide on 5 family-history red flags that may suggest BRCA testing to understand which patterns may warrant further discussion.
Final Takeaway
Understanding your BRCA test results is just as important as taking the test itself.
A positive, negative or VUS result can have very different implications, and the meaning of the result depends on the genes tested, your personal history and your family's cancer history.
If hereditary breast cancer is a concern, discuss your situation with a qualified healthcare professional or genetic counsellor. If testing is considered appropriate, hereditary breast cancer blood testing in the UAE can be discussed as part of your overall risk assessment.
Medical Disclaimer
This article is for general educational purposes only and does not provide a diagnosis or replace medical advice. BRCA test results should be interpreted alongside personal and family history by a qualified healthcare professional. A positive, negative or VUS result can have different implications depending on the circumstances.
Proofread by
Dr Rayan Mohammed
General PractitionerDr. Rayan Mohammed is a functional medicine physician and regenerative medicine specialist focused on root-cause diagnosis and metabolic health optimization.
