OWNOMI FIELD NOTES
What is a VCF file?
A VCF (Variant Call Format) file records genetic variation relative to a reference sequence. It is a structured data file for software, not a ready-made explanation of your health.
What is inside?
A VCF has a header describing its fields, followed by variant records. Core columns include chromosome, position, reference and alternative alleles, quality, filter status and additional information. Some files also include sample genotype fields. A .vcf.gz extension indicates a compressed file; the precise compression and indexing matter to the tools that read it. See the format specification.
What should I ask the provider?
Before choosing software, ask for a short technical handoff. You do not need to publish your file to ask these questions:
- What kind of file is this, and is there a separate report?
- Which reference genome assembly was used?
- Which pipeline produced it, and is there a description of its filters?
- Is this the complete data export available to me, or only a selected result?
- Is there an index or a README that should stay with the download?
Save the provider’s answers beside an unchanged copy of the original download. Keep personal identifiers out of public support posts.
What a file name cannot tell you
Two files ending in .vcf are not necessarily interchangeable. The header, reference assembly and producing workflow matter. A file may contain selected calls rather than everything measured. Do not interpret an absent record as proof that a particular finding was ruled out.
A sensible first session
Start with inventory, not interpretation: identify the format, read the documentation, confirm the reference and choose a tool that accepts that input. Ask the person helping you to demonstrate the workflow with a public or synthetic example first. Keep notes about commands, software versions and output locations.
For health questions, return to the testing provider or a qualified healthcare professional. This guide explains a technical format; it does not interpret personal variants.