AncestryDNA Laboratory Processing

 

 

After your sample arrives at the lab, it goes through several steps to process your DNA. In most cases, results are ready in about 6 weeks* from when your sample is received.

Your kit must be registered before lab processing can begin. If you haven’t already, register your AncestryDNA kit.

How your DNA is processed

Samples move through several stages at the lab. Each step prepares your DNA for the next stage of testing and helps ensure accurate results.

  1. Extraction (isolating your DNA): Your DNA is separated from the rest of your saliva sample so it can be tested. Your saliva contains white blood cells and cheek cells that hold your DNA. To extract your

    DNA, the lab uses automated equipment and special chemicals to break open the cells and remove other materials (like proteins, fats, and carbohydrates).

    Extraction ensures the lab has clean, usable DNA for testing.

  2. Amplification (making copies of your DNA): Additional copies of your DNA are made so there is enough to test and provide accurate results. 

    Because your sample contains only a small amount of DNA, the lab creates copies of it using heat and enzymes so there’s enough DNA to work with throughout the rest of the testing process. 

    Amplification ensures there is enough DNA for reliable testing.
     
  3. Genotyping (reading and recording your DNA): The lab examines over 700,000 specific locations in your DNA, called markers, where differences between people can occur. 

    To do this, the lab uses a special testing device that can read hundreds of thousands of DNA markers at the same time to determine which DNA base (Adenine, Thymine, Cytosine, or Guanine) is present at each one. What’s found is then recorded in a data file as a series of letters (A, T, C, and G).  

    Genotyping ensures your DNA is accurately read and recorded for analysis.
      
  4. Analysis (comparing and interpreting your DNA):

    After your DNA is read and recorded, it’s compared to reference panels to identify your ancestral origins (regions and journeys). If you chose to participate in DNA matches, your DNA is also compared to DNA from other AncestryDNA members.

    This process interprets the DNA data recorded during genotyping to produce your AncestryDNA results. Once complete, your results are added to your account.

  5. Results ready:

    Once your results are ready, you can view them in the DNA section of your account. For help finding your results, read Locating AncestryDNA Results. 

    Your DNA data file is also available in your account and can be downloaded from your DNA settings. 


Throughout this process, the lab performs quality checks to make sure there is enough usable DNA to produce reliable results. Sometimes, a sample may need to be retested or replaced. If that happens, we’ll work with you on the next steps for your test.

Where you are in the process

You can check your kit’s status in the DNA section of your Ancestry account to see where it is in the process.

Each status shows what’s happening with your sample.  

It’s normal for your sample to stay in the same stage for several days or weeks while the lab completes each step and performs quality checks.

Processing times may vary based on:

*During busy times, like holidays, shipping and processing may take longer.

For help checking your kit’s status or understanding what each status means, read AncestryDNA kit status.

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