About AncestryDNA ®
- What kind of test is AncestryDNA®?
- What will my results tell me?
- How can AncestryDNA® help me with my research?
- How does AncestryDNA® differ from other DNA tests?
- How long does it take to get my results?
- How do I view my results?
- Which countries is AncestryDNA available in?
Taking the test
- How do I collect a saliva sample?
- How do I register my kit?
- Should I take an AncestryDNA® test if I've received a bone marrow or stem cell transplant?
Interpreting my results
- Why link my DNA results to my family tree?
- Why don't my ancestral regions match what I expected?
- Will my DNA results tell me what information is specific to my maternal and paternal lines?
- How accurate is AncestryDNA®?
AncestryDNA® privacy
- Can other people see my results?
- How do I assign account roles for my DNA results?
- What's the difference in account roles between viewer, collaborator, and manager?
- How do I manage may privacy settings?
- Where can I learn more about privacy?
Downloading your DNA Data
- What is DNA Data?
- Why would someone want to download their DNA Data?
- How do I download my DNA Data?
- Can I still download my AncestryHealth® DNA Data (U.S. only)?
The AncestryDNA® Research Project
- What is the AncestryDNA® Research Project?
- What information is collected for the Research Project?
- How will the information be used and protected?
- How can I participate in or withdraw from the Research Project?
About AncestryDNA®
What kind of test is AncestryDNA®?
AncestryDNA® uses microarray-based DNA testing to survey your entire genome at over 700,000 locations, all with a simple saliva sample. AncestryDNA is an autosomal DNA test, which means your results are based on your 22 autosomal chromosomes, as opposed to your sex chromosomes (X and Y) or mitochondrial DNA. That means people of all genders can take an AncestryDNA test, and the results are not limited to just your direct maternal or paternal lines. Autosomal testing can help you find relatives across all lines in your family tree.
We combine advanced DNA science with the world’s largest online family history resource to predict your ancestral regions and help you find new family connections. We map your regions going back multiple generations and provide insight into questions like “What region of Europe are my ancestors from?” and “Am I likely to have East Asian heritage?” AncestryDNA® can also help you learn where your ancestors lived and moved in the recent past and identify relationships with unknown relatives through a dynamic list of DNA member matches.What will my results tell me?
Your AncestryDNA® results include information about your ancestral regions (where you likely have ancestors from) and journeys (where your ancestors and other relatives lived and moved in the recent past). And if you’ve chosen to see your matches and be listed as a match, we identify DNA matches, linking you to people you may be related to who have taken the AncestryDNA® test.How can AncestryDNA® help me with my research?
Your DNA may contain information that helps you make new discoveries about your family’s past and ancestral roots. It may also confirm information in your family tree. Using your DNA test in combination with an Ancestry® subscription gives you hints and other tools that can guide your investigations and connect you with new relatives. These new relatives that you discover may have additional information, a piece of your family story to tell, or photos to share.
How does AncestryDNA® differ from other DNA tests?
It’s more comprehensive.
Unlike Y-chromosome and mitochondrial DNA tests, AncestryDNA® surveys your entire genome at over 700,000 locations. It covers both the maternal and paternal sides of your family tree, so it covers all lineages. The Y-DNA test only reflects the direct father-to-son path in your family tree, and the mtDNA test only reflects the direct mother-to-child path in your family tree. Learn more about the differences between the DNA tests here.It predicts your recent ancestral origins.
Thanks to advances in DNA technology, we’re able to compare your DNA to samples from around the world to find out more about your family’s background and ethnic history—not ancient history, but the people and places that matter to you.Enhanced DNA matching.
Unlike Y-chromosome or mitochondrial DNA tests, the AncestryDNA® autosomal test looks at a much broader range of your DNA, which helps identify matches throughout your entire family tree—along both your paternal and maternal sides.The information is more relevant and recent.
We target your family history a few hundred or even a thousand years ago. Y-chromosome and mtDNA tests have a 10,000 to 50,000 year focus.
How long does it take to get my results?
Your AncestryDNA® test results will typically be returned to you within 6 weeks for regular processing and within 4 weeks for priority processing from the time the laboratory receives your DNA sample. You must also register your DNA kit online in order to begin processing.
If you have not received your AncestryDNA® results after 6 weeks with regular processing or 4 weeks with priority processing, please contact us.
How do I view my results?
- When your results are ready, they’ll appear on your DNA homepage, and you’ll receive an email from AncestryDNA® letting you know.
Which countries is AncestryDNA® available in?
The AncestryDNA® test is available for purchase online for residents of over 100 countries around the world.
Taking the test
How do I collect a saliva sample?
- Brush your teeth, then wait 30 minutes before collecting your sample. Don’t eat, smoke, or chew gum or tobacco during that time.
- Spit into the tube until your saliva reaches the wavy black line.
- Remove the funnel from the tube and replace it with the cap that contains the blue stabilizing fluid.
- Twist the cap tightly to release the blue stabilizing fluid into your saliva.
- Shake the tube for 5 seconds to mix your saliva with the blue fluid.
How do I register my kit?
In order to receive DNA results, you need to register your kit by entering the kit’s code on your Ancestry account. If you don’t have an account yet, you can create one for free at that link.
Register your kit here:
Australia: https://www.ancestry.com.au/dna/register
Canada: https://www.ancestry.ca/dna/register
Germany: https://www.ancestry.de/dna/register
Mexico: https://www.ancestry.mx/dna/register
Sweden: https://www.ancestry.se/dna/register
United States: https://www.ancestry.com/dna/register
Should I take an AncestryDNA® test if I’ve received a bone marrow or stem cell transplant?
We recommend that recipients of bone marrow or stem cell transplants (if from another person) do not take AncestryDNA® tests. But it can still be useful to have a close relative (like a parent or sibling) take the test.
We test the DNA collected in a person’s saliva sample, which contains cells from multiple sources, often including blood cells created by bone marrow or stem cells. If you’ve received a transplant, your saliva will probably include both your own DNA and the DNA of your donor. This combination of DNA can cause your results to be inconclusive or even possibly report the results of your donor. As a result, we don’tt recommend that bone marrow or stem cell transplant recipients take AncestryDNA tests. But there’s no impact to your results if you’re a donor.
Interpreting my results
Why link my DNA results to my family tree?
Connecting a public family tree to your AncestryDNA® results can help you discover how you're related to your DNA matches (if you have matches turned on) and find new ancestors. For help linking a tree, see Linking a Tree to AncestryDNA® Results.
Why don’t my ancestral regions match what I expected?
Your family tree may go back hundreds of years, but there could be more to your family’s story that’s beyond the reach of paper documents and conventional research. AncestryDNA® results can reach back further, to tell you things that aren’t in historical records—things you may not have known otherwise.
Although our algorithms and prediction models will continue to improve over time, there are a few reasons why your origins may not be exactly what you expected. Your origins may go back further than your family tree, your regions and journeys don’t always follow modern political boundaries (which means a political designation may not reflect all the populations that lived there in the past), and you don’t necessarily have DNA in common with all of your ancestors. For more information, see our article about unexpected results.
Will my DNA results tell me what information is specific to my maternal and paternal lines?
AncestryDNA® tests can tell you information about both your paternal and maternal lines because we analyze your autosomal DNA. Additionally, because of our large DNA database size, we’re able to tell you which regions, journeys, and traits were passed down by which parent–even if your parents haven’t taken DNA tests. This feature may require a subscription.
How accurate is AncestryDNA®?
We use advanced scientific techniques to produce your results. We measure and analyze your entire genome at over 700,000 locations. During the testing process, each DNA sample is held to a quality standard of at least a 98% call rate. Any results that don’t meet that standard may require a new DNA sample to be collected. Then we compare your DNA to one of the most comprehensive and unique collections of DNA samples from people around the world, to identify DNA similarities. As our database of DNA samples continues to grow, you could receive updates with new information.
AncestryDNA privacy
Can other people see my results?
As the DNA sample owner, you control who can see your results. The tests of minors must be registered by a parent or legal guardian, who becomes the account manager and controls who can see the test results. If you’d like, you can share your results with other people and assign someone else to manage your test.
How do I assign account roles for my DNA results?
Go to the “DNA test sharing” section on your test settings page to send an invitation for an account role. As the owner, you do not lose any account rights when you assign account roles. You can remove or reassign roles at any time.
What's the difference in account roles between viewer, collaborator, and manager?
This table describes the authorized tasks associated with the roles Manager, Collaborator, and Viewer. Task Viewer Collaborator Manager View DNA matches Yes. Yes. Yes. View match notes and hidden matches Yes. Yes. Yes. View ancestral regions Yes. Yes. Yes. View ancestral journeys Yes. Yes. Yes. View traits Yes. Yes. Yes. View chromosome painter Yes. Yes. Yes. View ThruLines® Yes. Yes. Yes. Link test results to a family tree No. Yes. Yes. Hide and unhide DNA matches No. Yes. Yes. Add and edit match notes No. Yes. Yes. Create and add to custom match groups No. Yes. Yes. Edit test owner’s details No. Yes. Yes. Label Parent 1 and Parent 2 No. Yes. Yes. Exchange messages with matches No. No. Yes. Change origins display preferences No. No. Yes. Share results via share buttons No. No. Yes. Grant and edit access to the test No. No. Yes. Receive updates about DNA results (U.S.) No. No. Yes. Permanently delete DNA test results No. No. Yes. Download DNA Data No. No. Yes. How do I manage my privacy settings?
You can manage your privacy settings on the DNA Settings page. Go straight to DNA settings or click your name or username in the top-right corner, then select Account settings > DNA.
DNA matches:
You can choose to view your DNA matches and be listed as a match, or to have this feature turned off.
Ancestral regions and journeys settings:
You can choose to display your full list of ancestral regions and journeys with other matches or only the regions and journeys you have in common with your matches.
Family tree linking:
You can link your DNA results (and the DNA results of any other DNA tests you’re the account manager for) to family trees that you have created. This can help you determine how you may be related to DNA matches. If you link DNA results to an Ancestry family tree, your matches may be able to see your tree (excluding living people in your tree), unless you’ve made your tree private. Currently, you can only link one tree to your DNA results, but you can change which tree is linked to your results.
Sharing DNA results:
You can invite others to access your DNA results as a “Viewer,” “Collaborator,” or “Manager.” Anyone you share your results with will be able to see your ancestral regions, ancestral journeys, traits, and DNA matches. There can only be one manager per DNA Test, so if you are the current manager and invite another person to become manager, you will no longer have those rights and will instead be classified as a collaborator of that test. Once you have transferred your manager rights to another person, you cannot undo that decision unless the new manager decides to return those rights to you. The new manager will also have the right to revoke your access to the DNA test.
Family tree linking:
You can link your DNA Test or any other DNA Test if you are the Account Manager to family trees that you have created. This will help determine how you may be related to any DNA matches found by AncestryDNA®. If you link the DNA Test to an Ancestry family tree, any potential matches who are Ancestry subscribers will be able to see your tree (excluding living people in your tree) as part of their results, unless your tree is designated as “Private” (please see “Family Tree Settings” below for more information). If you are an Ancestry subscriber, you will also be able to see any public family trees linked to the DNA Tests of your potential DNA matches. To link the DNA test to a tree, please click “Link to tree” under “Family Tree Linking” on the Settings page, select the applicable family tree(s), locate the DNA test-taker in the fillable box, and then click “Link to DNA Results.” To unlink a DNA test from a tree, click on the “Edit” button under “Family Tree Linking” on the Settings page, and press the blue ‘X’ next to the applicable tree. Currently, you can only link one tree to your DNA results, but from the ‘Family Tree Linking’ page, you can choose a different family tree to link to your DNA Test.
Sharing DNA results:
You can invite others to access your DNA results as a “Viewer,” “Collaborator,” or “Manager.” Anyone you share your results with will be able to see your ancestral regions, ancestral journeys, traits, and DNA matches. There can only be one manager per DNA Test, so if you are the current manager and invite another person to become manager, you will no longer have those rights and will instead be classified as a collaborator of that test. Once you have transferred your manager rights to another person, you cannot undo that decision unless the new manager decides to return those rights to you. The new manager will also have the right to revoke your access to the DNA test.
Comparing traits:
You can choose whether to make your traits visible to your DNA matches so they can compare their traits with yours.
Manage ancestral regions shared links:
On your DNA Settings page, you can see any links to your ancestral regions that you have shared and if you wish, delete any such links by clicking the “Remove shared link” button next to the applicable email addresses(es). Once you remove that link, the person you shared your ancestral regions with will no longer be able to access that information via the link they originally received from you unless you re-share it with them.
Download your DNA Data:
To download your DNA Data, go to the Settings page > Download or delete > Download DNA Data. Once you receive the downloaded DNA Data, that downloaded copy will not be protected by our security measures.
Deleting your DNA results:
If you want to permanently delete your DNA results from the AncestryDNA® website, you can do so from your DNA settings page. Once you delete the results, your DNA test will not be recoverable, and this action cannot be undone, so you must enter the password for your Ancestry account to confirm that you want to proceed with the deletion. In the event that you or we delete results, copies of the deleted information may remain viewable elsewhere if a copy has been shared with others and copied and stored. Additionally, we may retain certain information to prevent identity theft and other misconduct, even if deletion has been requested. Information that is removed or deleted may also persist in backup copies for a reasonable time for our internal business purposes, but it will not be available to you or others.
Ancestry website settings: You can manage the below privacy settings from your Account page.- Site/community preferences: Control the information that others in the Ancestry Community see about you, as well as the settings for hints you want to receive from us.
- Notifications: Control the email and push notification alerts that are sent to you.
- Family tree settings: Control how others can view, access and/or edit any family trees you may create.
- Display name preferences: Display your real name or your Ancestry® username to other Ancestry® users.
Where can I learn more about privacy?
Your privacy is very important to us. For more information on privacy at AncestryDNA®, see our Privacy Statement and Privacy Center.
Downloading your DNA Data
What is DNA Data?
DNA Data (or machine-readable biometric data) is the data generated from your DNA sample at the laboratory. This data is used to calculate your ancestral regions, match you to your genetic relatives, and predict your traits.
Why would somebody want to download their DNA Data?
This information may be interesting to scientists and genetic genealogists who would like to extend their genealogy research. The downloaded DNA Data should not be used with third-party databases, as outlined in the Ancestry® Terms and Conditions.
How do I download my DNA Data?
Once you receive the downloaded DNA Data, that downloaded copy will not be protected by our security measures. Go to your DNA settings page > Download or delete > Download DNA Data.
Can I still download my AncestryHealth DNA Data (U.S. only)?
AncestryHealth was available only to U.S. customers. The following applies only to users to distinguish that this won't apply to international users.
We discontinued AncestryHealth® in 2020, but you can still download the file we used to produce your health reports. Once you receive the downloaded DNA Data, that downloaded copy will not be protected by our security measures.
If you purchased AncestryHealth and did not purchase or upgrade to AncestryHealth powered by next-generation sequencing (NGS):
Your health results were generated with microarray technology, the same technology we use to produce your ancestral regions, matches, and traits. The file we used to produce your health reports and the rest of your DNA reports was the same. Download your DNA Data by going to your DNA settings page > Download or delete > Download DNA Data.
If you purchased AncestryHealth and upgraded to or purchased AncestryHealth powered by next-generation sequencing (NGS):
If you upgraded to NGS:
A portion of your health results was generated with microarray technology, and you can download the file we used to provide a portion of your DNA results by following the steps above. A portion of your health results was also powered by next-generation sequencing, and you can download that file by following the steps below.
If you purchased AncestryHealth powered by NGS:
A set of NGS data is stored in a Variant Call Format (VCF) file. NGS technology generates a large amount of additional DNA Data that we use to provide you with your AncestryHealth results that is not included in your standard DNA Data download. This additional NGS data is stored in a Variant Call Format (VCF) file. You can download your DNA Data by going to your DNA settings page > Download or delete > Download NGS data.
The AncestryDNA® Research Project
What is the AncestryDNA® Research Project?
The Ancestry Human Diversity Project (the “Research Project”) is a voluntary research project that collects, preserves and analyzes genealogical pedigrees, historical records, surveys, family health data, medical and health records, genetic information, and other information from people all around the world in order to conduct research studies to better understand, among other things, human evolution and migration, population genetics, population health issues, ethnographic diversity and boundaries, genealogy, and the history of our species. You may participate by agreeing to the Informed Consent.
What information is collected for the Research Project?
The Research Project collects genealogical data, such as pedigree, ethnicity, family history, and other information about you and your family, genetic data, such as your AncestryDNA® genotype. For more information, review the Informed Consent.
How will the information be used and protected?
TThe information provided to the Research Project will be used by researchers in the study of genealogy, anthropology, population genetics, population health issues, cultures, medicine (for example, to identify drug response, health risks, etc.), and other topics.
The information in the Research Project is protected using a variety of physical, technical, and administrative procedures. For example, we restrict access to our data center and databases and encrypt data when in transit. Additionally, when we collaborate with external third parties as part of the Project, these parties only have access to pooled information, from which information that traditionally permits identification of specific individuals (such as names and birth dates) has been removed. The information used in the Project will be segregated from other information, and only specifically authorized individuals will have access to this Information. For more information, review the Informed Consent.
How can I participate in or withdraw from the Research Project?
Participation in this Project is purely voluntary. You can decide not to be involved in this Project, and at any time, you may choose to withdraw some or all of the information you provided by visiting your AncestryDNA settings page or contact us. There will be no penalty to you, and you will continue to be able to use our websites and services as before. For more information, review the Informed Consent.