We’re approaching the end of the year, time for cold weather and hot chocolate in the northern hemisphere, summer and ice cream in the southern, and family and gifts all around. Some of those gifts will be DNA tests purchased during the recent sales and mailed back to the labs early in the new year. As in previous years, we might expect the deluge of incoming kits to cause backlogs in the labs that process our DNA samples, with increased wait times to get our results.
How Bad Has It Been in the Past?
Genealogy DNA testing really took off in 2017, and the labs were caught unawares in early 2018 when the holiday gift kits were shipped back all at once. In the first the months of 2018, AncestryDNA’s average processing time increased 1.7 fold (from 21 days to 37) compared to the last three months of 2017, 23andMe’s increased 2.5 fold (from 21 days to 52), MyHeritage increased 1.4 fold (from 26 to 37), and Family Tree DNA’s was flat (from 40 days to 42). The exception was Living DNA, which had been steadily decreasing their processing times since their founding a little over a year before. However, they hit a bump soon after.
The situation was somewhat better in early 2019. AncestryDNA actually decreased their average processing time slightly from October–December 2018 (29 days versus 25), and Living DNA’s times dropped by nearly half, from 45 days to 26 in the January–March 2019 period. On the other hand, 23andMe’s times were up 2.1 fold (11 days versus 24) and Family Tree DNA’s times were up 1.4 fold (25 days versus 35). Missing data prevented a comparison for MyHeritage, but they use Family Tree DNA’s lab, so their processing times were probably similarly affected.
All times are from the day the completed test was mailed back to the lab to the day results were available.
Other Factors Affect Processing Times
Over the years, we’ve seen other factors not related to the holiday rush increase processing times. Living DNA’s growing pains caused a slow-down in the first half of 2018, 23andMe’s software upgrades in mid-2018 caused a massive delay, and the change-over to the GSA microarray chip, the lab equipment used to analyze the data, increased processing times for MyHeritage and Family Tree DNA in the first half of 2019.
What Can We Expect This Year?
If 2018 is any guide, we can expect AncestryDNA’s processing times to be largely unaffected and the times at the other companies to increase by a week or two, on average. According to the most recent data from the ongoing DNA Processing Times Survey, AncestryDNA is averaging 16 days from mailing to results and 23andMe is averaging 13 days. The survey does not have enough data from the other companies to calculate averages. You can contribute your own processing times here.
Thank you for that information.
Outside the box, but my new matches at GEDmatch had been dead in the water for some time; but in looking yesterday, I had a big bunch of new matches. Glad to see a pick up there.
Are the response times for autosomal tests only, or do they include 23andMe’s medical and FTDNA’s y, BigY, and mt-dna, which might make the response times from these two companies longer if they are included in the mix?
The graph only includes autosomal tests. I collect data for any test on the market, but I don’t get enough responses for yDNA and mtDNA to graph them.
I’m assuming the 16 days for Ancestry is in the US? In the UK it is around 6 weeks!
In July, kits mailed from Europe to Ancestry were taking about 11 days in transit.
still waiting for a notice they received my test and it’s been 4 weeks, no notice yet.
Sounds like it’s been lost in the mail. I would contact their customer support department and ask them to send out a replacement test kit.
Dante Labs is currently promising 2 week turnaround on their Whole Genome Sequencing. https://www.dantelabs.com/collections/advanced-dna-tests/products/whole-genome-sequencing
Wow! That’s zippy!
I sent my Sample in January 09, 2020. Received for by Ancestry January 21. Processing in Process. Now Just waiting. Patiently.
The most recent report I have took 8 days from processing to results. Please update the survey when you get your results!
Have you received your results yet?
Mine were received January 28th, I’m still waiting for processing.
I sent mine out jan 16, 2020. They received it jan 29 2020. It’s been processing since.
Thank you for entering the dates into the survey. Every data point helps!
I activated my kit March 2nd. It was received March 9th. I have been stuck in processing since.
Thank you for that update! Please use the survey to keep us posted: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdy3CLiUnoYamanRfEI4yC15CG3PDayQELtnTIh5nagNLPX8A/viewform
My dna sample is being extracted as of 3/24/2020
Estimate time given for results is 4/14.
Ok so here’s an update
Kit activated: 3/2/2020
Sample received: 3/5/2020
Sample processing: 3/24/2020
DNA Extracted:3/26/2029
DNA Analyzed: in progress
DNA Results: Estimate date 4/14/2020
Thanks!
Hi! I’m from Hungary, I sent my sample to the lab on March 27th. I’ve been waiting for it to arrive since then. Do you think I should worry?
International kits typically take about a week to get to the lab. Expect delays because the coronavirus means staffing levels are low right now.
Test: AncestryDNA
Kit activated: 4/25/2020
Sample received: 5/04/2020
Sample processing: 5/12/2020
DNA Extracted: 5/13/2029
DNA Analyzed: In Progress
DNA Results: Est. Date: 6/02/2020
Thanks! When did you mail the kit back to the lab? And where did you mail it from (US, Europe, elsewhere)?
Did you get your results yet?
My sister activated her Ancestry test 5/10/2020
Mailed from U.S. 5/12
Received 5/22
Nothing since…
The most recent report I have was about 10 days from arrival to processing. Hopefully it’ll start soon!
Still nothing…
How frustrating!
Finally! June 10 sample processing begins.
Hooray!
My samples were received on May 28th and no movement since 🙁
It should go into processing soon. Fingers crossed!
and still nothing…
Same. Received on May 27th and no movement since.
Mine was received May 26th and still not being processed. I’m anxious for the results. Hoping to find my biological father after 40 years ?
I’m anxious right there with you! That’s a long time to wait. I hope you have really great matches.
This is so frustrating especially when I’ve known people to receive results in three weeks.
It is frustrating. It seems the covid crisis has impacted processing times.
I’m looking to find my father’s side as well. My kit was received on may 26th and as of today they are analyzing my dna.
My DNA is FINALLY being analysed, as of 6/23/20.
Kit received May 27, 2020
No updates since.
Today is June 14, 2020.
I decided to check online, versus checking on the Ancestry DNA app and it says the sample is processing. No date given but try going to ancestry.com and see if there’s any movement on there.
Same. Mine was received on May 27th and no updates since. I also saw online that the sample is processing, but have received nothing since the text that it was received.
Kit mailed July 22
Received July 28
It immediately said Sample Processing that same day but no date given
Nothing since and it is August 8 now.
My son’s was done awhile ago (preCOVID) and seemed pretty fast.
My 23 & Me test took no time at all last month from start to finish. Faster than their pre determined estimates.
This is pathetic
Recent kits from Ancestry have taken about 45 days from mailing.
Sample Received September 17th.
Sample Processing started the next day.
Today September 23rd, waiting.
Thanks for sharing that!
DNA extracted on October 8th. Still waiting in the analysis stage…my impatience is growing 🙁
Thanks for the update!
I ordered the new AncestryDNA Health product (NGS). The kit was received August 20th; the ancestry part was ready September 20th and the health part was ready September 21st.
Thanks for sharing that!
I activated my kit on October 6, 2020
Sample was verified as received on October 20, 2020
Sample processing is in progress and it stops there. DNA not yet extracted.
Any update?
Thanks!
11/17 – Sample Received
12/1 – Sample Processing
12/4 – DNA extracted
12/9 – DNA analyzed
12/15 – Results Ready (Original estimate was 12/22 after DNA was extracted, moved to 12/12 when DNA was analyzed)
(US Kit with the Thanksgiving holiday on 11/26)
Thank you! I’d appreciate it if you could enter those dates in the survey: bit.ly/DNAProcessingTimes
Done!
Thank you so much!
– ORDERED 11/28/21
– SHIPPED 11/29/21
– ACTIVATED 12/14/21
– MAILED 12/14/21
– RECEIVED/REACHED DISINFECTING FACILITY 12/18/21
– PREP & DISINFECTED 12/18-12/29
– RECEIVED & IN PROCESSING QUEUE 12/30/21
– 2-4 WEEKS TO GET THROUGH PROCESSING , EXTRACTING, & ANALYZING & THEN GET RESULTS
– ESTIMATED RESULT TIME: 1/13/22-1/27/22
Ordered from the US , so fingers crossed there are no delays and everything goes according to plan
Which testing company?