AncestryDNA®

AncestryDNA® explained

Get answers to some common questions.

• What is AncestryDNA?

  AncestryDNA is a cutting edge DNA testing service that utilises some of the latest autosomal testing technology to revolutionise the way you discover your family history. This service combines advanced DNA science with the world’s largest online family history resource to predict your genetic ethnicity and help you find new family connections. It maps ethnicity going back multiple generations and provides insight into such possibilities as: what region of Europe are my ancestors from, or am I likely to have East Asian heritage? AncestryDNA can also help identify relationships with unknown relatives through a dynamic list of DNA matches.

• How do I take the test?

  AncestryDNA is a simple saliva test you can do in the comfort of your own home. Once you order, you will receive the AncestryDNA kit in the mail in a matter of days. Your AncestryDNA kit includes full instructions, a saliva collection tube, and a pre-paid return mailer (so you don't have additional costs to return your DNA.) After returning your sample by just dropping it in the mail, your DNA is processed at the lab. You then receive an email notifying you that your results are ready to explore on the AncestryDNA website.

• What do my results tell me?

  Your AncestryDNA results include information about your ethnicity across 1000 regions and identifies potential relatives through DNA matching to others who have taken the AncestryDNA test. Your results are a great starting point for more family history research, and it can also be a way to dig even deeper into the research you’ve already done.

• How accurate is the test?

  The AncestryDNA test uses microarray-based autosomal DNA testing, which surveys a person’s entire genome at over 700,000 locations, all with a simple saliva sample. Additionally, the new online interface integrates state-of-the-art tools for you to utilise your DNA results for family history research.

• When can I expect to get my results?

  Your AncestryDNA test results will normally take about 6-8 weeks to process from the time that the lab receives your DNA sample. Please note that you must also activate your DNA kit online in order to begin processing.

• How do I see my results?

  When your AncestryDNA results are ready, you will receive an email from AncestryDNA notifying you, with a link to view your results. Your results will also be available online in your password-protected AncestryDNA account.

• How can I give AncestryDNA as a gift?

  Giving AncestryDNA couldn’t be easier. Simply order a kit online, create your Ancestry account to track your order, and have the kit shipped to either you or the recipient. When they open the box, they’ll find clear instructions on how to take the test, open their free account, and activate the kit online.

• Will I have access to the recipient’s results?

  You will only have access to the recipient’s results if the recipient chooses to share their results with you. As privacy and security are of the utmost importance here at Ancestry, only the person who has taken the test may decide whether or not to share their results. When activating their kit, they will be given the option to share their results with the person who purchased the kit. They can also choose to share with other Ancestry members via the DNA Settings page.

• Can I ship a DNA kit directly to someone else?

  Absolutely. When placing your order, you can choose to have the kit shipped either to you or to the recipient.

• How secure and private is AncestryDNA?

  Your privacy is very important to us and we are committed to protecting your DNA. For more information on privacy at AncestryDNA, please review the AncestryDNA Privacy Statement. For a more general discussion of privacy on the Ancestry family of websites, see the Ancestry Privacy Center.

• Can a woman take this test?

  Yes, both women and men can use AncestryDNA since we all carry the DNA that is being tested. In fact, men and women are tested in the same way for the same number of markers. Unlike some other DNA tests, which only analyse the Y-chromosome (and can only be taken by a male to look at your direct paternal lineage) or mitochondrial DNA (can be taken by a male or female but only looks at your direct maternal lineage), AncestryDNA looks at a person’s entire genome at over 700,000 locations.

• Why would I take the AncestryDNA test?

  AncestryDNA is a cutting-edge DNA testing service that utilizes some of the latest autosomal testing technology, our patented Genetic Communities™ technology, and the largest consumer DNA database to revolutionize the way you discover your family history. This service combines advanced DNA science with the world's largest online family history resource to estimate your genetic ethnicity and help you find new family connections. It maps ethnicity going back multiple generations and provides insight into such possibilities as what region of Europe your ancestors came from or whether you’re likely to have Southeast Asian heritage. AncestryDNA can also help identify relationships with unknown relatives through a dynamic list of DNA matches.

• Want to find out more about our next generation of ethnicity estimates?

  Click here to find out how our enhanced ethnicity estimates give you an even more detailed picture of your origins.