Glossary

Information and samples

Biological sample

Blood, saliva, tissue, or other material from a person that may contain DNA. Laws differ in which materials they include.

Genetic information

Information connected to genetic tests, inherited characteristics, or family medical history. The exact definition depends on the law or policy.

Genetic test

An analysis used to detect genetic variants, chromosomes, genes, or related products. Legal definitions may include or exclude particular tests.

Deidentified data

Data processed to reduce its connection to an identifiable person. Deidentified does not necessarily mean that reidentification is impossible.

Privacy and control

Privacy

A broad concept concerning access to a person, sample, or information and how that information may be collected or used.

Confidentiality

A duty or expectation that a person or organization receiving information will limit how it is disclosed.

Security

Administrative, physical, and technical safeguards used to protect information from unauthorized access, use, or disclosure.

Consent

Permission for an action such as testing, storage, use, or disclosure. Who must consent, what they must be told, and how permission may be withdrawn depend on the governing rule.

Records and sources

Jurisdiction

The government whose law or policy is described, such as the United States, a state, the District of Columbia, or a territory.

Legal status

The stage or form assigned to a record, such as introduced, passed, enacted, died, approved, or statute. Status labels do not by themselves establish whether every provision is currently effective.

Introduced

A bill was filed in a legislature. It has not become law.

Passed House or Passed Senate

A bill passed one legislative chamber. It has not necessarily completed the process required to become law.

Died

A bill did not complete the legislative process in the session tracked by the record.

Enacted

A bill completed the required approval process and became law. Its effective date may be later than its enactment date.

Statute

The record describes law codified in a jurisdiction's statutory code.

Approved

An agency rule or policy received the final approval described by its primary source. The effective or compliance date may be later.

Pending

The source snapshot did not show a final outcome. Readers should verify the current status with the linked official source.

Primary source

The official bill, statute, regulation, policy, court opinion, or government record used to verify a project summary.

Project-authored summary

A description written and reviewed for this project. It is separate from the official text and does not provide legal advice.

NHGRI source summary

Archived wording retrieved from the National Human Genome Research Institute. The project preserves this text as source material and does not treat it as a current legal conclusion.