diff --git a/java/src/org/broadinstitute/sting/gatk/refdata/RodVCF.java b/java/src/org/broadinstitute/sting/gatk/refdata/RodVCF.java
index ddd9b1f79..10b96fbeb 100755
--- a/java/src/org/broadinstitute/sting/gatk/refdata/RodVCF.java
+++ b/java/src/org/broadinstitute/sting/gatk/refdata/RodVCF.java
@@ -282,6 +282,16 @@ public class RodVCF extends BasicReferenceOrderedDatum implements VariationRod,
         return mCurrentRecord.getVCFGenotypeRecords();
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Returns the genotype associated with sample, or null if the genotype is missing
+     *
+     * @param sampleName the name of the sample genotype to fetch
+     * @return
+     */
+    public Genotype getGenotype(final String sampleName) {
+        return mCurrentRecord.getGenotype(sampleName);
+    }
+
     /**
      * do we have the specified genotype?  not all backedByGenotypes
      * have all the genotype data.