The latest science.
Results you can trust.

Our rigorous standards ensure quality service.

Our Genetic Health Risk* and Carrier Status* reports meet FDA criteria for being scientifically and clinically valid
All saliva samples are processed in CLIA-certified and CAP-accredited labs
Our DNA collection kit is FDA-cleared for use with our Genetic Health Risk and Carrier Status reports
Our kit is manufactured in accordance with FDA's Good Manufacturing Practice regulations
Genotyping is a well-established and reliable platform for analyzing DNA
Our team of scientists and medical experts uses a robust process to develop reports to ensure validity
Ancestry percentages are derived from our powerful, well-tested system that provides you with ancestry
estimates down to the 0.1%

How your DNA becomes a report.

Human DNA is about 99.5% identical from person to person. However, there are small differences that make each person unique. These differences are called variants.

Your DNA was passed down from your parents—and their parents and so on. Variants can be linked to certain health conditions, traits and ancestry groups.

Your saliva contains DNA from cells in your mouth. We send you a saliva collection kit and instructions for providing your sample.

Our CLIA-certified lab extracts DNA from cells in your saliva sample. Then the lab processes the DNA on a genotyping chip that reads hundreds of thousands of variants in your genome.

Your genetic data is analyzed, and we generate your personalized reports based on well-established scientific and medical research.

Why genetics is only part of the story.

When it comes to your health and traits, DNA is only part of the story. Other variables come into play, including non-genetic factors, such as your environment and lifestyle.

Our process at work.

To ensure quality, your DNA analysis is performed in US laboratories that are certified by CLIA (Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988) and accredited by the College of American Pathologists (CAP).

MORE ABOUT OUR LAB

A CLIA-certified and CAP-accredited lab must meet certain quality standards, including qualifications for individuals who perform the test and other standards that ensure the accuracy and reliability of results.

The analysis we perform is called genotyping. Our genotyping looks at hundreds of thousands of specific locations on your DNA. These locations are known to vary between individuals, and some are associated with certain conditions, traits, or ancestry.

We use leading technology to genotype your DNA—a custom Illumina HumanOmniExpress-24 format chip.

Hi. Still have questions about science?

Here are just a few of the things people frequently ask about 23andMe.
If you don't see your question here, get in touch with us.

What is a variant?

A variant is a difference in the DNA sequence between two individuals. Variants can cause specific diseases, contribute to diseases or traits (along with the environment), or have no effect. Variants can be passed down from parent to child.

What is genotyping?

The analysis we perform is called genotyping. Genotyping looks at specific locations in your DNA and identifies variations. These variations make you unique.

In choosing these specific locations, we focus on the variations that are known to be associated with important health conditions, ancestry and traits. Genotyping is a great way to start understanding how your genetics can impact your life.

What does 23andMe mean?

23andMe refers to the 23 pairs of chromosomes in your DNA.

*The 23andMe PGS test uses qualitative genotyping to detect clinically relevant variants in the genomic DNA of adults from saliva collected using an FDA-cleared collection device (Oragene·DX model OGD-500.001) for the purpose of reporting and interpreting genetic health risks and reporting carrier status. It is not intended to diagnose any disease. The relevance of each report varies based on ethnicity. Each genetic health risk report describes if a person has variants associated with a higher risk of developing a disease, but does not describe a person's overall risk of developing the disease. These reports are not intended to tell you anything about your current state of health, or to be used to make medical decisions, including whether or not you should take a medication or how much of a medication you should take. Our carrier status reports can be used to determine carrier status, but cannot determine if you have two copies of any genetic variant. These carrier reports are not intended to tell you anything about your risk for developing a disease in the future or anything about the health of your fetus, or your newborn child's risk of developing a particular disease later in life. For Gaucher Disease Type 1, we provide a single report that includes information on both carrier status and genetic health risk.

Our science

23andMe is the first and only genetic service available directly to you that includes reports that meet FDA standards for clinical and scientific validity.

Quality

Our rigorous quality standards:

Our Genetic Health Risk* and Carrier Status* reports meet FDA criteria for being scientifically and clinically valid
All saliva samples are processed in CLIA-certified and CAP-accredited labs
Our DNA collection kit is FDA-cleared for use with our Genetic Health Risk and Carrier Status reports
Genotyping is a well-established and reliable platform for analyzing DNA
Our team of scientists and medical experts uses a robust process to develop reports to ensure validity
Ancestry percentages are derived from our powerful, well-tested system that provides you with ancestry estimates down to the 0.1%

Privacy

You are in control. You choose how your personal genetic information is used and shared with others. We tell you how those choices are implemented, and how we collect, use and disclose your information.

We will not share your individual-level information to any third party without your explicit consent
In accordance with the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA), a federal law put in place in 2008 to protect Americans from discrimination based on genetics, we will not give your information or results to health insurance companies or employers
We have guidelines and policies in place to protect the personal information of children as well as incapacitated or deceased individuals
We do not provide information to law enforcement unless required to comply with a valid subpoena or court order

Learn more about our privacy practices.

DNA Basics

Human DNA is about 99.5% identical from person to person. However, there are small changes that make each person unique. These changes are called variants.

Your DNA was passed down from your parents — and their parents and so on. Variants can be linked to certain health conditions, traits and ancestry groups.

When it comes to your health and traits, your DNA is only part of the story. Other factors can come into play, including non-genetic factors such as your environment and lifestyle.

How your DNA becomes a report

Your saliva contains DNA from cells in your mouth. We send you a saliva collection kit and instructions for providing your sample.

Our CLIA-certified lab extracts DNA from cells in your saliva sample. Then the lab processes the DNA on a genotyping chip that reads hundreds of thousands of locations in your genome.

Your genetic data is analyzed, and we generate your personalized reports based on well-established scientific and medical research.

Our lab

A CLIA-certified and CAP-accredited lab must meet certain quality standards, including qualifications for individuals who perform the test, and other standards that ensure the accuracy and reliability of results.

We use leading technology to genotype your DNA — a custom Illumina HumanOmniExpress-24 format chip.