Q: How long does a DNA test take?

Most DNA tests can take between 2-6 weeks to get your results. The time it takes is usually relative to how detailed your report is, so the lengthier your report, the longer you’re waiting. Sometimes it can even take up to 8 weeks. The only real exception is STD tests. These usually send your results in a matter of days, and in some cases, less than 24 hours. That means you can get the treatment you need sooner rather than later.

Q: Does 23andMe have a sale?

Not at the moment but regular deals often become available throughout the year . Keep an eye on this page for the latest 23andMe deals.

Question 1

How long does a DNA test take?

Accepted Answer

Most DNA tests can take between 2-6 weeks to get your results. The time it takes is usually relative to how detailed your report is, so the lengthier your report, the longer you’re waiting. Sometimes it can even take up to 8 weeks.

The only real exception is STD tests. These usually send your results in a matter of days, and in some cases, less than 24 hours. That means you can get the treatment you need sooner rather than later.

Question 2

Does AncestryDNA have any deals?

Accepted Answer

Yes. AncestryDNA is only offering pre-Black Friday deals at the moment, but you can still grab a great discount. You can save $100 on Ancestry’s 6-month subscriptions with its latest deal.

Question 3

Does 23andMe have a sale?

Accepted Answer

Not at the moment but regular deals often become available throughout the year. Keep an eye on this page for the latest 23andMe deals.

Question 4

What is the most accurate DNA test available?

Accepted Answer

No test is 100% accurate, so it’s important to remember that you could always get some inaccuracies. However, every test we recommend has at least 99% accuracy, so it’s very rare. Our top choice is AncestryDNA because it surpassed our expectations in our testing review, and it has some of the best testing kits around. If you want to check it out for yourself before you buy, read our detailed AncestryDNA review.

Question 5

Which one is cheaper: 23andMe or AncestryDNA?

Accepted Answer

If you are looking to get information about your ancestry, 23andMe (starting price: $99.00) and AncestryDNA (starting price: $99.00) are priced the same. Therefore, you will need to base your decision on what each ancestry DNA test kit offers and what you are specifically looking for. Essentially, 23andMe’s DNA reports cover more topics and go into more detail than AncestryDNA. However, AncestryDNA has the added advantage (for an added fee) of enabling you to construct an online family tree that you can populate using the company’s vast historical and DNA databases. You can also check out some of the other best ancestry DNA kits if neither one provides you with all the data you want.

Question 6

Who should choose 23andMe over AncestryDNA?

Accepted Answer

23andMe’s reports are much more substantive than AncestryDNA’s reports for ancestry and they also offer DNA health testing for your genetic risk and carrier status for a number of conditions. For instance, 23andMe’s ancestry report explores your maternal and paternal haplogroups and your Neanderthal ancestry; AncestryDNA’s report does not. So if you’re looking for more information for your money, 23andMe is the clear choice.

Question 7

Who should choose AncestryDNA over 23andMe?

Accepted Answer

If your family genealogy is important to you, AncestryDNA is a better option. 23andMe allows you to build an online family tree for free, where you can manually add all relatives you know about. 23andMe will automatically add people to your tree who appear to be related to you based on your DNA; AncestryDNA will not do this for free. But if you’re willing to pay for a monthly subscription to AncestryDNA’s genealogy service, they will suggest a lot more new relatives for you to add. This is because AncestryDNA not only has many more people’s DNA in its database, but also many more historical genealogy records.

Question 8

What features does 23andMe provide that AncestryDNA does not?

Accepted Answer

23andMe’s ancestry report includes information on your maternal and paternal haplogroups as well as your Neanderthal ancestry — none of which comes with an AncestryDNA report. AncestryDNA currently doesn’t offer health DNA testing, but 23andMe can also analyze your DNA for your risk for several genetic diseases and your carrier status for over 20 congenital conditions. It also includes information on how your DNA may affect traits like diet, exercise, and sleep, eye color, and finger length. You also get a customized health action plan. AncestryDNA doesn’t provide any of these features.

Question 9

What features does AncestryDNA provide that 23andMe does not?

Accepted Answer

Both 23andMe and AncestryDNA provide a free online tool for constructing your family tree. However, while 23andMe lacks the ability to access a vast online genealogy database to expand your family tree, AncestryDNA excels in this aspect. With the world&rsquo;s largest DNA database consisting of 16 million individuals and a historical genealogy record database of 6 billion entries, AncestryDNA proves highly beneficial in locating a substantial number of living and deceased relatives to incorporate into your family tree.

Question 10

What are the symptoms of abnormal vitamin D levels?

Accepted Answer

Vitamin D is an essential micronutrient, which helps to keep your bones strong and healthy. Abnormal levels of vitamin D – either too much or too little – can lead to the following symptoms:

Muscle pain and/or weakness
Joint pain
Fatigue, lethargy, or feeling tired
Thinning hair
Mood changes

Question 11

Can an at-home vitamin test diagnose a medical condition?

Accepted Answer

No, an at-home vitamin test cannot diagnose you with any medical condition. They can give you an idea if you have a deficiency in certain vitamins, but they can’t tell you why or the underlying cause.

In your results report, you may also get some actionable insights into diet and lifestyle changes you can make, to improve and maintain your levels. However, if you’re worried about the cause of a deficiency, you should share your results with your healthcare provider who can organize further testing and treatment if necessary.

Question 12

Will insurance cover the cost of my at-home hormone test?

Accepted Answer

At-home hormone tests are not usually covered by your insurance, but it is still worth checking with your provider before ordering. However, a number of providers on this list, including Everlywell, accept FSA/HSA cards as a form of payment.

Question 13

How long does it take to get your vitamin test results?

Accepted Answer

That depends on the provider. With lab-testing companies, you can expect your test results in just a couple of days. Results from at-home vitamin test providers take a little longer, but usually, you&rsquo;ll receive them in 2 to 5 days.

Question 14

How do you test the iron levels in your blood at home?

Accepted Answer

Iron blood tests usually require a finger-prick blood spot sample, which is quick and painless. Some might also require a urine or stool sample, depending on the test you choose.

Once you’ve taken your test, mail it back to the laboratory where your sample will be reviewed. After a few days, your report is usually ready.

Question 15

How long does an iron blood test take?

Accepted Answer

Usually, at-home iron blood test results take no more than a few days. In some cases, you can get your results less than 24 hours later. This is typically only for in-lab options, though, since at-home kits require you to mail your sample back before it’s reviewed.

Question 16

Do iron blood tests require fasting?

Accepted Answer

Yes, you usually have to fast before taking your iron test. Times vary but this is typically between 8-12 hours before taking your sample, so always check the kit instructions first.

Most tests also advise that you take your sample first thing in the morning before 10 am for the most accurate results.

Question 17

How do you read iron blood test results?

Accepted Answer

Levels vary between men and women, with 13.5-17.5g/dL considered normal for males, and 12.0-15.5g/dL for females. Anything outside of these may indicate a deficiency or possible iron overload.

Question 18

Can you use an at-home blood test for food allergies?

Accepted Answer

Yes. There are lots of blood tests that screen for food allergies, including sensitivities and intolerances to common food groups like dairy and gluten. You can also buy blood tests that screen for environmental allergies, too. Everlywell is one of the best options for allergy testing, with kits that screen for over 200 food sensitivities.

Most at-home blood tests can’t diagnose a food allergy, but they can certainly indicate if you have a sensitivity. You should always take your results to your doctor to get an accurate diagnosis before changing your diet.

Question 19

Are there at-home blood tests that screen for vitamin deficiency?

Accepted Answer

Yes, you can easily find blood tests that look for vitamin deficiencies. LetsGetChecked is a great option — you can buy an all-in-one bundle that screens for essential vitamins like vitamin D, B12, and E, or just an individual vitamin D test.

In your report, you can see your vitamin levels and whether they are high, medium, or low, which is great for knowing where you may need to add supplements to your diet.

Question 20

How do you do an at-home blood test?

Accepted Answer

Taking an at-home blood test is really easy. Your kit comes with all the equipment you need to take your sample, including a detailed instructions pamphlet, usually with imagery to help you. Most kits require up to five blood spots that you provide on a card. Once you’re done, you just need to mail back your sample and wait for your results.

If you choose the walk-in lab option, these might require a full blood sample, but these are always carried out by trained nurses and are much quicker than a visit to the doctors.

Question 21

Are at-home blood tests covered by insurance?

Accepted Answer

Your blood test might be covered by insurance, but it usually depends on what you’re testing for. It’s always worth checking out your insurance terms and conditions to see if you might be covered.

Many companies also accept HSA/FSA cards even if they don’t accept insurance, so you can typically knock a few dollars off your test that way.

Question 22

What&rsquo;s the best at-home blood test for overall health?

Accepted Answer

Our top choice for overall wellness is LetsGetChecked. It has over 20 at-home blood kits screening all aspects of your health, including organ function, hormones, vitamin levels, STDs, and diabetes.

LetsGetChecked separates all of its tests by gender, so you only buy the kit you really need. You also get free physician support after you get your report, so they can walk you through your results.

If you’re more focused on screening allergies and intolerances, though, Everlywell is our second choice. There are loads of kits that look at food sensitivities, environmental allergies, plus all the usual wellness kits like organ function and hormone levels.

Question 23

Are DNA nutrition tests worth it?

Accepted Answer

Sure, if you’re looking to learn more about nutrition and healthy eating habits.

You can learn about any intolerances you might have, which vitamins you’re deficient in, and which foods are best for your body. Some tests can even help you with weight loss goals by advising you of which diet to follow and how many calories you should be eating per day.

With an understanding of how to fuel your body, you can eliminate symptoms like bloating, headaches, and sluggishness, because you’re only giving your body what it really needs.

To get all that and more, I’d recommend Living DNA, because it offers really detailed reports that include nutritional and exerise information, and it’s very affordable.

Question 24

Are DNA nutrition tests accurate?

Accepted Answer

DNA nutrition tests analyze specific markers in your genetics to determine your predispositions to intolerances and deficiencies, as well as your optimal nutrition guide. While they are highly accurate, remember that no test can guarantee 100% reliability. And you shouldn’t use a DNA nutrition test to diagnose a problem, such as celiac disease.

A DNA test can help you understand which sensitivities you have and if they might highlight your risk of these diseases, but you should always get an official diagnosis from a medical healthcare professional.

Question 25

What is the connection between DNA and nutrition?

Accepted Answer

DNA and nutrition are connected because certain gene variants affect the way your body processes foods and substances. For example, lactose intolerance, and alcohol and caffeine metabolism, are genetically determined.

Question 26

Can I take my DNA nutrition results to a nutritionist?

Accepted Answer

Yes. It’s a good idea to take your at-home DNA test kit results to a licensed healthcare professional before making any dramatic changes to your diet and lifestyle.

With your results, you can work together to build a nutrition plan that’s perfectly designed for your body and includes all the nutrients you need.

Question 27

What information will a personalized nutrition DNA test tell me?

Accepted Answer

A personalized nutrition test will provide you with loads of important information about how to optimize your diet. This includes:

The right portions of fat, carbohydrates, and proteins to include in your meals
A detailed nutrient report that details predispositions to vitamin deficiencies and suggests ideal amounts of micronutrients
A substance metabolism report that shows how well you will metabolize caffeine, alcohol, and other substances
A food sensitivity report that identifies lactose intolerance, cilantro aversion, bitter taste, and other things

Question 28

What are the symptoms of high and low testosterone?

Accepted Answer

Maintaining a normal level of testosterone is essential for your health and wellness, playing a key role in fertility, bone health and density, mood, and more. If your level of testosterone is abnormal, it can have a significant impact on your physical and mental wellbeing.

Symptoms of high testosterone levels in males include:

Acne
Infertility
Mood swings
Aggressive behavior
Excessive body hair
Higher than the usual sex drive
High blood pressure

Symptoms of low testosterone levels in males include:

Weight gain
Loss of muscles mass
Low sex drive
Lethargy
Mood swings
Reduced testicle size
Problems sleeping
Loss of body hair

If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms or are concerned about your testosterone levels and are hoping to start a family, you should schedule an appointment with your healthcare provider as soon as possible.

Question 29

Can women take a testosterone test?

Accepted Answer

Although testosterone is usually thought of as a ‘male hormone’, it’s also vital for women as well, just not at the same levels. In women, testosterone plays a key role in the maintenance and growth of bones, increasing muscle mass and decreasing body fat, the menstrual cycle, and maintaining a healthy sex drive, as well as potentially supporting cardiovascular health.

So, yes women can and should take a testosterone test if they are concerned that their testosterone levels are outside the normal range.

Symptoms of low testosterone in women include sexual dysfunction, thinning hair, drying skin, a loss in muscle mass, increase in body fat, and mood changes. High testosterone in women can cause excess acne, abnormal body hair growth, smaller breasts, menstrual irregularities, deeper voice, and easy weight gain.

Question 30

What are normal testosterone levels?

Accepted Answer

Generally speaking, blood testosterone levels are measured as ng/dl, and the normal ranges for adults are detailed in the table below.

Age	Males (ng/dl)	Females (ng/dl)
17-18 years	300 – 1200	20 – 75
19+ years	240 – 950	8 – 60

If you’re taking a saliva test – like that from Everlywell – your testosterone level is likely to be measured as pg/ml and for comparison, 1ng/dl = 10pg/ml.

People will have different levels of testosterone within this healthy range depending on age, weight, and other lifestyle factors. If you’re concerned about the results of your testosterone test, it’s advised that you discuss them with your healthcare provider.

Question 31

Who should get a testosterone test?

Accepted Answer

An at-home or lab-based testosterone test is the first step in understanding why you may be experiencing the symptoms of abnormal levels of the hormone. You can take the results of your testosterone test to your healthcare provider who can help determine if health issues, underlying conditions, or lifestyle choices are influencing your testosterone production.

Question 32

What is the difference between blood and saliva testosterone tests?

Accepted Answer

The main difference in blood and saliva tests is the type of testosterone that&rsquo;s measured. A saliva test measures your level of free testosterone i.e. the testosterone that isn&rsquo;t bound to proteins. A blood test measure total testosterone, which is both the free and bound hormone.

Question 33

What software and devices work with family tree builders?

Accepted Answer

It’s never been easier to build your family tree. There are many benefits of genealogy software over the old fashioned way, with pen and paper. Not only can you easily rectify mistakes, but you also have billions of historical documents at your fingertips. Most of the best family tree builders on this list can be used online or are compatible with both Windows and Mac. Many also have apps for iOS and Android.

Question 34

Which family tree maker is the best?

Accepted Answer

Each family tree builder has its own pros and cons. Some have large databases of historical records to help with research into your ancestors. Others give you ways to connect with relatives linked to your tree. It’s important to determine what features matter the most to you before choosing your genealogy software.

Our top pick is AncestryDNA as it scores well in all the areas we tested. A subscription lets you access more than 27 billion historical records, connect with other users who are potential relatives, and even link DNA test results to your tree.

Question 35

Can I build my family tree for free?

Accepted Answer

Yes, anumber of family tree builders on this list &ndash; including Ancestry &ndash; offer unlimited free trials, so you can try out all the software has to offer, risk-free.

Question 36

How can you protect your privacy when building your family tree?

Accepted Answer

Built into most family tree software is the option to make your tree public (visible to others) or private (only visible to you). However, doing so can limit your ability to connect with other potential relatives.

Always make sure you read a company’s privacy policy before signing up to get an understanding of how it stores and uses your personal data.

Question 37

How can you find pictures of distant relatives?

Accepted Answer

Adding pictures of your distant relatives to your tree the fun part and it can really bring your charts and reports to life. The majority of the family tree builders on our list allow you to add media to your tree, and some even have photo editing software.

What if you only have photographs of relatives going back a couple of generations? Where do you find pictures of your more distant ancestors?

A simple web search may provide you with some images of your ancestors, particularly if they appeared in newspaper articles or submissions to Wikipedia. But, if you don’t get lucky, subscribing to a genealogy – like MyHeritage or Ancestry – may unveil photos of your distant relatives in their archives.

Question 38

How do you read an ethnicity estimate?

Accepted Answer

While DNA testing companies use complex algorithms to calculate your ethnicity estimate, reading your report is a straightforward process..

Most companies let you select an ethnicity and highlight where that region is on a map — in some cases, they also provide relevant information in a text box about your ancestral origins. In certain cases, you might submit multiple test kits with a single company, in which case you may be able to toggle between your different ethnicity estimates.

Question 39

What does an ethnicity estimate mean?

Accepted Answer

Not only can you take a DNA test to see what race you are, but you can also find out how much of your DNA comes from specific regions. The ethnicity estimate is the feature that makes this possible.

Part of what makes the process unique is that your results are always changing. As companies test more customers, your regional percentages can change as a result of improvements. Instead of your results coming to you listed out in a static report, it’s available on a dynamic webpage in your account that updates automatically. Plus, there are useful tools built in to the report that you can use to discover more about your ancestry.

Question 40

Which is the best ethnicity test: AncestryDNA, or 23andMe?

Accepted Answer

Each company’s ethnicity estimate is different because of their unique approaches towards calculating your results. There are particular regions a company can specialize in over others or features that no other service offers to help you with genealogy research. Deciding on a test is an important choice that largely depends on your ancestry and what you want out of an ethnicity estimate.

Our best overall ethnicity estimate pick is Ancestry for the way it presents your ethnicity estimate, the standards it uses to determine your results, and the affordable cost.

If you’re still not sure, why not read our comparison? We’ve looked at and compared each test in detail to help you make the right choice.

Question 41

How accurate is ethnic DNA testing?

Accepted Answer

The accuracy of your ancestry ethnicity estimate can vary between different companies. This largely depends on your ancestral background and the reference populations available.

A reference population represents a group of actual living individuals (from a single location) who’ve submitted ethnicity genetic tests to a company. Their results greatly impact the results in your ethnicity estimate, as companies compare your DNA to its reference populations. You should aim to test with companies (when possible) that cover reference populations most closely related to your known ancestry.

Question 42

Which DNA test kit offers the most detailed ancestry DNA test?

Accepted Answer

The amount of detail that a company’s ethnicity estimate can have may depend on your ancestral background. For example, if you have European or British ancestry, your results with Living DNA will likely contain more details considering that it has an extensive collection of European historical records. AncestryDNA has more reference populations[/affiliate-link] which might find you a more likely match.

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