When you take a DNA test, you set off on an incredible journey… and so does your DNA sample. With a few gentle swabs on the inside of your cheek, a small collection of cells begins its trip from your home to the MyHeritage DNA lab — where your DNA is carefully processed to uncover the story it holds.
1. Activation: The first step in the journey
The adventure begins with you. After you have activated your DNA kit following the instructions in the enclosed booklet, and made sure it is assigned to your person’s profile on your family tree, we will know it belongs to you
2. Collection: Easy and convenient
After activating your kit, you can gently collect cells from the inside of your cheek using the soft swab included — no needles, no need to spit inside a tube. These cells hold your DNA, the blueprint that makes you unique. When you place the swab into the vial, it mixes with a special lysis buffer solution: a liquid with stabilizing chemicals that will keep your DNA safe from damage or decay during transit.
3. Departure: Safely sealed for travel
Your DNA, now safely suspended in the protective solution, is sealed inside its vial, a secure container designed to keep it stable at room temperature.
4. En route: Shipping to the lab
The envelope included in your kit will indicate where to send your sample to. There are specific shipping requirements for certain countries in Europe and Latin America as well as Australia. If you are shipping from one of these locations, you will send your sample via regular mail to a collection center we have set up for your convenience. We will take care of your sample from the moment it arrives.
5. Arrival and check-in
At the CLIA-certified lab (in Houston, Texas), technicians verify your barcode and registration, associating your physical sample with your family tree profile, then place your vial in a neat rack among others awaiting processing.
What’s happening to the sample: The sample is accessioned, logged, and stored under clean conditions until testing begins.
6. DNA extraction: The reveal
Inside the lab, the cells are gently opened, and the DNA inside is isolated and purified. That genetic material now takes center stage. The lab measures it to ensure there’s enough to proceed.
What’s happening to the sample: Cells are lysed, DNA isolated and cleaned, and quantity/quality verified.
7. Preparing for reading: Getting ready
The purified DNA is converted into a format readable by advanced instruments. This step makes it possible to unlock deeper insights than before.
What’s happening to the sample: DNA is converted into a “readable” format and quality-tested.
8. The big read: Whole Genome Sequencing enters
This step is especially exciting: the lab uses low-pass Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) rather than older methods. WGS reads almost the entire genome — about 3 billion base pairs, compared to about 700,000 with older genotyping methods like GSA, which we used until not long ago.
At MyHeritage we’re proud to be the first consumer DNA testing company to adopt WGS at scale.
What’s happening to the sample: The sequencing instruments perform WGS, producing far more data than older methods and elevating the depth of insight.
9. Making sense of the story: Quality control and data assembly
Once the huge volume of DNA data is generated, powerful computers align, filter, and clean it. What emerges is a clear, reliable view of your genetic blueprint.
What’s happening to the sample: The raw data is processed, cleaned up, and assembled into a trustworthy dataset.
10. Organizing the data: Refining the details
Once your DNA has been read and cleaned, it goes through one more important step: organizing and refining the data. Sophisticated algorithms review the sequencing information to make sure everything lines up correctly, filling in any tiny gaps where the data might be incomplete. The result is a polished, comprehensive dataset that captures your genetic story with clarity and precision.
What’s happening to the sample: The processed data is quality-checked, organized, and refined to ensure it’s complete and consistent. Any small gaps are filled using advanced computational methods, preparing it for accurate comparison and analysis.
11. Discovery phase: Exploring your insights
The lab work has been completed. Now your data is compared with worldwide reference populations for ancestry estimation, and with other users’ data to identify your DNA Matches. Because of the depth from WGS, the potential for more accurate matches and richer insights grows significantly.
What’s happening to the sample: Your data is analyzed against reference populations and other users to produce ethnicity estimates and DNA Matches.
12. Homecoming: Your results
After this full journey — from cheek to lab to data — you receive a notification that your results are available in your MyHeritage account. Here you can explore your Ethnicity Estimate and Genetic Groups, discover DNA Matches, and feel confident in the care and technology behind your results.
What’s happening to the sample: Your results are securely uploaded for you to explore.
Where will your DNA take you?
Your DNA goes on a remarkable journey, and the destination is a deeper understanding of yourself. From a simple cheek swab to advanced sequencing and detailed analysis, every step is designed to deliver rich, meaningful insights.
Ready to begin your own journey of discovery? Order your MyHeritage DNA kit today and see what your DNA reveals about you.
FAQs about the journey of DNA samples
How long does it take for my sample to reach the lab?
Once you drop your kit in the mail, your sample typically arrives at the MyHeritage DNA lab within 3–4 weeks, depending on your location. You’ll receive an update as soon as your envelope has arrived at the lab and is ready for processing.
What happens to my sample after it’s tested?
After your DNA has been processed and your digital results are generated, the remaining physical sample is securely discarded. Nothing is stored — your DNA sample is analyzed, digitized, and then disposed of according to strict laboratory and privacy standards.
Can the sample get damaged in transit?
It’s very unlikely. The lysis buffer inside the vial is designed to protect your DNA by releasing it from the cheek cells and keeping it stable, even with changes in temperature or movement during shipping.
Who handles my sample once it reaches the lab?
Every step is managed by trained technicians. From the moment your barcode is scanned, your sample’s journey is tracked carefully, ensuring accuracy, consistency, security and confidentiality throughout the process.
Is my DNA and data kept private?
Yes. MyHeritage follows strict privacy and data protection standards. Your sample and data are identified only by a code — not your name — and handled in accordance with rigorous laboratory and privacy protocols. The lab does not have access to your personal information.
Can I see where my sample is in the process?
Yes. Once your sample is received, you can track its progress in your MyHeritage account. You’ll see updates as it moves through each stage, from check-in to DNA extraction to results delivery. You can watch this video to learn how to track your DNA kit.
Maor Malul started his career at MyHeritage by joining its DNA Support team at MyHeritage at its inception in 2016. An informatics engineer passionate about genealogy in general and particularly, Sephardic history and culture, he onboards and manages the growing community of contributors at the MyHeritage Wiki. Since 2005, he has been a regular contributor to the Wikimedia movement, having written over 2,000 articles in different Wikipedias, and is currently an advisor to the Affiliations Committee of the Wikimedia Foundation.
The post The Journey of a DNA Sample: From Cheek Swab to Discovery appeared first on MyHeritage Blog.
Source: My Heritage
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