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Frequently Asked Questions

Basic questions about DNA and Genealogy are answered in this page. If you do not find the answer you are looking for here or in our genetic genealogy tutorials, please contact us.

Before we go to the regular Q&A, we thought that a customer's e-mail that was received at the office would give us a great opportunity to clarify some other questions that you may have. For that purpose, we created a separate page that can be found here: Testing my DNA?!? Are you nuts?!?!

Please select the category that best fits your question from the dropdown menu below. You may refine your search by adding key words in the field below.  Press “Send” to submit your search query.

  1. What is Family Tree DNA?
  2. Why would I want to take a genetic test?
  3. What are the costs of the tests offered by Family Tree DNA?
  4. Is it possible to pay for a test to be sent to another person (third-party billing)?
  5. What do you do with the results of the tests?
  6. How is your test different from a paternity test?
  7. What do these Loci and Allele reports look like; what do the differences look like?
  8. How is the test performed?
  9. Then what happens?
  10. Will Family Tree DNA have the right to publish the results of data received from the Surname Database?
  11. How do I place an order for someone else?
  12. Will I have the right to remove my genetic profile from the database at some later time?
  13. If the marker analysis shows that I carry a problematic gene, will I be informed?
  14. I am researching a family with many distinct branches. How many people from each branch should I use?
  15. I am female and another potential relative is male. How can we make a DNA connection using Family Tree DNA?
  16. How long will it take for me to get my results?
  17. Suppose I have a distant cousin in another country and we both send our specimens separately, how will you know that we want to confirm our family connections?
  18. How far back can you determine a genetic link?
  19. What tests do you perform?
  20. What % of Jews carry the Cohanim gene?
  21. When should I use a genetic testing service?
  22. What is your policy on confidentiality and privacy?
  23. What steps does Family Tree DNA take to keep my results confidential?
  24. What does the lab do with the actual DNA sample once the test is completed?
  25. Who's Who at Family Tree DNA?
  26. What's in a DNA test kit?
  27. What is Family Tree DNA's refund policy?
  1. What is Family Tree DNA?

    Family Tree DNA is a genetic testing company that specializes in genealogical tests. Our service is dedicated to helping genealogists find lost relatives when the paper trail ends and the brick wall takes its place. We use a painless cheek scraping to obtain DNA that can help accurately determine a relationship with either a 99.9% probability of YES or a 100% certainly that no near term relationship existed.

  2. Why would I want to take a genetic test?

    Our service was created for the serious amateurs and the professional genealogists who wish to extend their family trees by confirming a link where no conventional source records exist. In some cases our tests can also be used to determine if a person is part of a larger group of people: for example, Jews will be able to confirm they are of Cohanim lineage. Our tests are also perfect for individuals who want to perform Surname-based family tree reconstruction projects.

  3. What are the costs of the tests offered by Family Tree DNA?

    Please see our products page for a full list of our current prices.

  4. Is it possible to pay for a test to be sent to another person (third-party billing)?

    Sure. In the ordering process there are 2 screens. The first screen is to enter the information about the person that will do test. When you advance to the second screen, you can enter the billing information, in case it is different from the individual that is being tested.

  5. What do you do with the results of the tests?

    Results will be placed in our secure, private and confidential database. Once a person's test result has been entered into our genetic library, a connection can be made whenever another related person chooses to have their DNA tested. For a better understanding of the privacy and confidentiality commitment of Family Tree DNA, please see our position on Privacy & Confidentiality

  6. How is your test different from a paternity test?

    Family Tree DNA's primary test attempts to determine if 2 people thought to be unrelated actually had a common ancestor. Our specific purpose is to help recreate lost family links. Our test is for genealogy NOT for paternity, alimony or other legal purposes.

  7. What do these Loci and Allele reports look like; what do the differences look like?

    The report that we will send you will have various information, along with your personal allele information. We have listed several examples of these for you to see here. See Table #2

  8. How is the test performed?

    Your genetic test kit consists of a cheek scraper and a collection tube. In about five minutes, you will be able to read the instructions and perform a painless cheek scraping. The effect of using the scraper is about the same as brushing your cheek with a soft bristle toothbrush. A backup scraper & tube is included to insure that a good sample is obtained by our lab. We intend that you use them both!

  9. Then what happens?

    After you have placed your order, a genetic test kit and instructions will be mailed to you. Upon its' return your genetic sample will be processed, and the results will be entered into our secure, private and confidential non-web-based genetic library. A comparison between your specific genetic markers and those of others in the database will then be performed and you will be notified if another person matches your results perfectly.

  10. Will Family Tree DNA have the right to publish the results of these studies?

    No

  11. How do I place an order for someone else?

    Make sure you put in the name of the actual test taker in the first screen of the ordering process.
    Enter the address the kit and the results will be mailed to. If this is not the address of the test taker put “c/o" the person receiving the kit, on the first address line. You can enter the address on the second line.
    If you want the kit sent to one address and the results sent to another address enter the address you want the kit sent to. Once the test taker has received the kit and returned it to our office you may change the address to the one you want the results sent to.

    Enter the phone number you wish to use as the contact number for this kit.

    Enter the email address(es) you want to be notified of the order and the results. You may enter more than one email address.

    Once you have filled out the information on this page click “Continue” and fill out the billing information. Your order will not be processed until you hit the “Confirm” button.

  12. Will I have the right to remove my genetic profile from the database at some later time?

    Yes. Just like an email list, if you decide that you want your data deleted from the database, you may email us, we will look up your ID number, and ask that it be deleted from the Database.

  13. If the marker analysis shows that I carry a problematic gene, will I be informed?

    No. Family Tree DNA does not perform medical genetics tests.

  14. I am researching a family with many distinct branches. How many people from each branch should I use?

    This is an important and very practical question that speaks to the heart of genealogical testing and research. The chance that a match does not exist due to infidelity or unreported adoptions occurs 2%-5% of the time per generation. For families trying to do family reconstruction, it is prudent to test 2 different known male cousins from each different branch. In cases of unexpected results, FTDNA will retest at no charge to confirm that a lab error is not an issue. In case that a retest is done and the resutls are confirmed, a $50 charge will be applied.

  15. I am female and another potential relative is male. How can we make a DNA connection using Family Tree DNA?

    The answer depends on where you believe the relationship exists. Both our mtDNA and y-chromosome tests require that the people tested have a direct line back to the common ancestor. Please see our inheritance chart for details on selecting two people.

  16. How long will it take for me to get my results?

    From the time you return the two specimens to us it will take approximately seven weeks to test your DNA sample, analyze the specimens and compare the results to data in the existing genetic library.

  17. Suppose I have a distant cousin in another country and we both send our specimens separately, how will you know that we want to confirm our family connections?

    Unless you ordered together or sent in your samples together we wouldn't know that you wanted to share results with each other, however this is not a problem if you sign the Release Form, included with every test kit. When signed we can then automatically release specific contact information to you and people who have an exact match to you. (We invite you to test us!) If you are specifically testing with another individual just send an email after you place your order.

  18. How far back can you determine a genetic link?

    All genetic tests from Family Tree DNA will provide you a probability that you and another person, who have an exact match, will have your Most Recent Common Ancestor (MRCA) within a range of time backwards. Our 12 marker test gives you the following range: 7 generations (50%) likelihood & 29 generations (95%) likelihood. Using our 25 marker test the 50% likelihood drops to 3 generations and the 95% to 13 generations. The 37-marker test tightens further to 2 generations (50%) and the 95% to 7 generations. We have also incorporated all of our marker mutations rates into our new FTDNATiP calculator. See the new Table 1.

  19. What tests do you perform?

    The complete list of tests is available here.

  20. What % of Jews carry the Cohanim gene?

    From studies performed at cemeteries about 5% of Jews appear to be Cohanim. Furthermore, in a study conducted in Israel where people were asked at random if they were Cohanim, Levites or Israel, of those answering Israel, about 3% tested positive for the Cohanim gene.

  21. When should I use a genetic testing service?

    You should consider genetic genealogy when you have arrived at a brickwall in your traditional research. We work in conjunction with existing genealogical records and our tests help you fill in the gaps where no records exist. Looking forward, you should also consider testing an elderly relative if they are the last representative of their line.

    With a male we can determine descent from their father's father or their mother's mother. That means, in the case of the great-grandparent's generation, we can determine a link to two of the eight great-grandparents. You can, however, easily determine other family links by obtaining DNA samples from your male and female cousins.

  22. What is your policy on confidentiality and privacy?

    We understand the extreme need for privacy, even when the goal is genealogy rather than courtroom or medical determinants. Much has been written about privacy and confidentiality of genetic testing over the last 5-10 years, and many states have passed legislation in this area. We follow the most stringent guidelines for privacy: we control the Surnames Database Library, while the University of Arizona controls and maintains the genetic library on our behalf. Therefore, there is a double safety net. The first is upon us in the form of State legislation, and the other upon the University of Arizona, which is bound by both State and Federal privacy and confidentiality legislation. To the best of our knowledge, no other genetics testing company has voluntarily placed itself under such strict regulations. Please read our section on Privacy.

  23. What steps does Family Tree DNA take to keep my results confidential?

    Your privacy is assured because the testing facility will not have access to your name. Only your unique number will accompany your collection tube to the testing lab. The computer-generated number is the only information about you that the testing facility will see. Once your test has been completed, the results will be entered in a secure non-web-based database, and the lab will inform us of any matches between two coded numbers. The information placed in our Surnames Database Library will only display your last name on our web site. No specific information about you will be available at the web site. Search the Database.

  24. What does the lab do with the actual DNA sample once the test is completed?

    The DNA extracted from your sample is kept by the lab for a period of 25 years for your exclusive use. It is important to note that Family Tree DNA adopts a "double safety net" in regard to your sample: Arizona Research Labs at the campus of the University of Arizona keeps the DNA associated to a number and not a name, while Family Tree DNA offices keep the database with no access to the actual sample.

  25. Who's Who at Family Tree DNA?

    View the people who provide scientific and business support for FTDNA.

  26. What's in a DNA test kit?

    Click here to see what's in a DNA test kit.

    Only Family Tree DNA will have the capability through our database to cross-reference test results from all submissions in order to identify family links of which you were not even aware!

    This information will only be available to those people who have signed the Release Form granting us permission to notify others in the database of an exact match.
  27. What is Family Tree DNA's refund policy?

    If a kit is ordered, paid for and unused, we will give a full refund if the order was placed mistakenly (person does not fit into a surname project).

    If a kit is ordered, paid for and unused because the person "changed his/her mind", will will give a refund, less an amount that covers for credit card charges (in case the kit was paid by credit card), shipping and cost of the kit. Those deductions are $10 for orders under $150, $15 for orders from $151 to $250 and $25 for orders from $251 to $500.

    We won't give refunds after kits enter lab processing. Delays in processing a scientific test can happen, and therefore we also won't give refunds in case of delays in reporting results.