diff --git a/src/ntunion.cpp b/src/ntunion.cpp
index 4ae115b..bf055c8 100644
--- a/src/ntunion.cpp
+++ b/src/ntunion.cpp
@@ -18,6 +18,12 @@ static NTFieldPtr ntField = NTField::get();
 namespace detail {
 
 
+NTUnionBuilder::shared_pointer NTUnionBuilder::value(UnionConstPtr unionType)
+{
+    valueType = unionType;
+    return shared_from_this();
+}
+
 StructureConstPtr NTUnionBuilder::createStructure()
 {
     FieldBuilderPtr builder =
diff --git a/src/pv/ntunion.h b/src/pv/ntunion.h
index 7a65633..86b8054 100644
--- a/src/pv/ntunion.h
+++ b/src/pv/ntunion.h
@@ -40,6 +40,14 @@ namespace detail {
     public:
         POINTER_DEFINITIONS(NTUnionBuilder);
 
+        /**
+         * Specifies the union for the value field.
+         * If this is not called then a variant union is the default.
+         * @param unionType  the introspection object for the union value field
+         * @return this      instance of  NTUnionBuilder
+         */
+        shared_pointer value(epics::pvData::UnionConstPtr unionType);
+
         /**
          * Adds descriptor field to the NTUnion.
          * @return this instance of <b>NTUnionBuilder</b>.
diff --git a/test/ntunionTest.cpp b/test/ntunionTest.cpp
index 335edf2..66dab4b 100644
--- a/test/ntunionTest.cpp
+++ b/test/ntunionTest.cpp
@@ -47,7 +47,6 @@ void test_builder()
     testOk(valueField.get() != 0, "value is enum");
 
     std::cout << *structure << std::endl;
-
 }
 
 void test_ntunion()
@@ -158,11 +157,43 @@ void test_wrap()
     testOk(ptr.get() != 0, "wrapUnsafe OK");
 }
 
+
+void test_variant_union()
+{
+    StructureConstPtr structure = NTUnion::createBuilder()->
+            addDescriptor()->
+            addAlarm()->
+            addTimeStamp()->
+            createStructure();
+    testOk1(structure->getField<Union>("value")->isVariant());
+}
+
+void test_regular_union()
+{
+    UnionConstPtr u = getFieldCreate()->createFieldBuilder()->
+        add("x", pvDouble)->
+        add("i", pvInt)->
+        createUnion();
+
+    StructureConstPtr structure = NTUnion::createBuilder()->
+            value(u)->
+            addDescriptor()->
+            addAlarm()->
+            addTimeStamp()->
+            createStructure();
+    testOk1(!structure->getField<Union>("value")->isVariant());
+    testOk1(structure->getField<Union>("value") == u);
+}
+
+
+
 MAIN(testNTUnion) {
-    testPlan(29);
+    testPlan(32);
     test_builder();
     test_ntunion();
     test_wrap();
+    test_variant_union();
+    test_regular_union();
     return testDone();
 }