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23andMe is a direct-to-consumer genetic testing service that helps people explore their ancestry, inherited traits, DNA relatives and selected health information.
Customers normally order a testing kit, provide a saliva sample and send it to a laboratory. The company analyses selected parts of the person’s DNA and delivers the results through an online account or mobile application.
Many people use 23andMe because they are curious about where their ancestors may have lived, whether they share DNA with other customers or how genetics may influence certain traits.
Some service options also provide health-related reports. However, these reports have important limits. They do not examine every possible genetic variant, cannot predict a person’s future with certainty and should not be treated as a replacement for medical testing or professional healthcare advice.
This guide explains how 23andMe works, what its reports may show, its potential benefits, its limitations and the privacy questions customers should consider before submitting their DNA.
What Is 23andMe?
23andMe is a personal genetic testing service that analyses DNA collected from a saliva sample.
The company’s services may provide information about:
- Ancestry composition
- Genetic relatives
- Maternal and paternal lineages
- Inherited traits
- Carrier status
- Selected health risks
- Wellness characteristics
- Medication-related genetic variants
Available reports depend on the purchased service, the customer’s location and current regulatory requirements.
The company currently markets ancestry and health-related testing through the 23andMe Research Institute website. Its ancestry service compares a customer’s DNA with reference populations and provides estimated connections to thousands of locations worldwide.
23andMe is not the same as a complete medical genetic examination. It mainly uses genotyping technology to examine selected genetic markers rather than sequencing every part of a person’s genome.
How Does 23andMe Work?
The 23andMe testing process is designed to be completed from home.
A typical customer follows these steps:
- Purchase a 23andMe DNA kit.
- Register the kit using an online account.
- Provide a saliva sample in the supplied tube.
- Mail the sample to the designated laboratory.
- Wait for the DNA to be processed.
- View the available reports online.
The laboratory extracts DNA from the saliva sample and analyses selected genetic markers.
These markers are known as single nucleotide polymorphisms, commonly shortened to SNPs. They are small differences in DNA that may be associated with ancestry, traits or certain health conditions.
The company compares these markers with its reference databases and scientific research to produce personalised reports.
Results are estimates based on available data. They may change as reference populations, scientific knowledge and interpretation methods improve.
What Can 23andMe Tell You About Ancestry?
The ancestry service is one of the company’s most popular features.
It can estimate the percentage of a person’s DNA associated with different populations and geographic regions.
A report may include information about ancestry connected to areas in:
- Europe
- Africa
- Asia
- The Americas
- Oceania
- The Middle East
23andMe says its ancestry reports compare customer DNA with people of known ancestry from thousands of locations and territories.
The results may show broad regional ancestry and, in some cases, more specific possible connections.
However, ancestry percentages should not be interpreted as exact measurements of nationality, culture or identity.
Countries and borders change over time. Genetic populations also overlap, and people from neighbouring regions may share similar genetic patterns.
An ancestry estimate is therefore a scientific interpretation of DNA similarities, not a legal or cultural definition of who someone is.
What Is the DNA Relatives Feature?
The DNA Relatives feature helps customers find other participating users who share segments of DNA with them.
The service estimates how closely two people may be related based on the amount and pattern of shared DNA.
Possible matches may include:
- Parents
- Children
- Siblings
- Half-siblings
- Grandparents
- Aunts or uncles
- Cousins
- More distant relatives
Customers must participate in the DNA Relatives feature for their information to be used for matching.
This feature can help people expand their family research or connect with previously unknown relatives.
However, it can also reveal unexpected information.
A person may discover:
- An unknown biological parent
- Previously unknown siblings
- Adoption-related information
- Misidentified family relationships
- Relatives who do not wish to communicate
Anyone using DNA matching should be emotionally prepared for results that may challenge existing family beliefs.
It is also important to respect the privacy and boundaries of genetic matches.
Maternal and Paternal Haplogroups
23andMe may provide haplogroup reports that explore ancient maternal or paternal lineages.
A maternal haplogroup is based on mitochondrial DNA, which is generally passed from mothers to their children.
A paternal haplogroup is based on the Y chromosome, which is generally passed from fathers to sons.
Because not everyone has a Y chromosome, paternal haplogroup information may not be directly available to every customer.
These reports explore ancient migration patterns rather than identifying a recent individual ancestor.
They may help users understand how distant human populations moved across regions over thousands of years.
What Are 23andMe Trait Reports?
Trait reports explore how genetics may influence certain visible or personal characteristics.
Examples may include:
- Hair characteristics
- Taste preferences
- Smell sensitivity
- Earwax type
- Facial features
- Sleep patterns
- Motion sickness
- Ability to detect certain tastes
Traits are often influenced by a combination of genetics, environment, lifestyle and chance.
A genetic result may suggest that a trait is more likely, but it does not guarantee that the person will have it.
Trait reports are generally intended for education and personal interest rather than medical decision-making.
What Health Information Can 23andMe Provide?
Depending on the service purchased and the customer’s country, 23andMe may provide selected health-related reports.
These can include:
- Genetic health risk reports
- Carrier status reports
- Wellness reports
- Pharmacogenetic reports
- Health predisposition reports
Genetic health risk reports identify selected variants associated with an increased chance of certain conditions.
Carrier status reports may indicate whether a person carries selected variants associated with inherited disorders.
Pharmacogenetic reports provide information about variants that may influence how the body processes certain medications.
The US Food and Drug Administration has authorised specific 23andMe direct-to-consumer reports under defined conditions. These reports examine selected variants and do not provide a complete assessment of a person’s total medical risk.
What Does a Genetic Health Risk Result Mean?
A genetic health risk report may show that a person carries a particular variant associated with a condition.
This does not necessarily mean the person currently has the condition or will develop it later.
Disease risk may depend on many factors, including:
- Other genes
- Age
- Diet
- Exercise
- Smoking
- Environmental exposure
- Family history
- Existing medical conditions
A person without a tested risk variant may still develop the condition.
Similarly, a person with a reported variant may never develop it.
23andMe itself explains that a genetic variant associated with increased risk does not mean that the customer will definitely develop the condition.
Important or concerning results should be discussed with a doctor or qualified genetic counsellor.
A healthcare professional may recommend confirmatory testing using a clinical laboratory before any medical decision is made.
What Are Carrier Status Reports?
Carrier status reports may identify selected variants linked to inherited conditions.
A carrier usually has one copy of a variant associated with a recessive genetic disorder but does not have the condition.
If both biological parents carry variants linked to the same recessive condition, their child may have a higher chance of inheriting the disorder.
However, consumer genetic tests may not examine every possible disease-causing variant.
A negative carrier result does not completely eliminate the possibility that a person is a carrier.
People making pregnancy or family-planning decisions should consult a medical professional or genetic counsellor for appropriate clinical screening.
Can 23andMe Diagnose a Disease?
No. 23andMe should not be used as a stand-alone diagnostic test.
The company states that its raw genetic data and consumer reports are not intended to diagnose medical conditions.
Diagnosis normally requires a professional evaluation that may include:
- Medical history
- Physical examination
- Family history
- Blood tests
- Imaging
- Clinical genetic testing
- Specialist assessment
Customers should not start, stop or change medication based only on a 23andMe result.
Medication-related reports are intended to support a discussion with a healthcare provider, not replace professional prescribing decisions.
How Accurate Is 23andMe?
Accuracy has more than one meaning in genetic testing.
The laboratory may accurately identify whether a tested genetic marker is present.
However, the interpretation of that marker may still have limitations.
An ancestry estimate depends on:
- The quality of the reference database
- Which populations are represented
- The testing chip used
- The company’s statistical model
- Current scientific knowledge
Health interpretations depend on:
- Which variants were tested
- The strength of the scientific evidence
- The customer’s ancestry
- Other genetic and lifestyle factors
Some health reports may be more relevant to certain ethnic or ancestral populations because the tested variants occur more commonly or have been studied more thoroughly in those groups. The FDA notes these population-related limitations for several authorised reports.
Customers should therefore view results as one source of information rather than a complete answer.
What 23andMe Does Not Tell You
A 23andMe test does not provide a complete picture of your ancestry, health or identity.
It does not:
- Sequence every part of your DNA
- Identify every disease-causing genetic variant
- Diagnose most medical conditions
- Predict exactly how long you will live
- Guarantee that you will or will not develop a disease
- Replace a doctor or genetic counsellor
- Prove cultural or national identity
- Create a complete family tree automatically
The reports are most useful when their limits are understood.
Marketing claims should never be interpreted more broadly than the scientific evidence allows.
23andMe Privacy and Genetic Data
Genetic information is highly sensitive because it is permanent and can also reveal information about biological relatives.
Before using any DNA testing company, customers should read its privacy statement, research-consent terms and data-sharing settings.
23andMe states that it does not sell, lease or rent genetic information without explicit consent, although its privacy terms describe situations in which information may be shared with affiliates, service providers, research partners or other parties.
Customers should review settings related to:
- Research participation
- DNA Relatives
- Profile visibility
- Sample storage
- Data downloads
- Third-party connections
- Account deletion
Privacy settings should be checked regularly because services and policies may change.
23andMe’s Bankruptcy and Ownership Change
23andMe filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in March 2025.
The bankruptcy raised public concern about what could happen to customers’ genetic and personal information if company assets were sold.
The US Federal Trade Commission contacted the bankruptcy trustee and emphasised that any transfer of customer data needed to comply with privacy promises and applicable law.
In June 2025, a court approved the sale of substantially all 23andMe assets to TTAM Research Institute for $305 million. The assets included the Personal Genome Service, research operations and Lemonaid Health.
The acquisition was completed in July 2025, and the testing service continued operating under a nonprofit public-benefit structure.
Existing and prospective customers should still review the latest ownership, privacy and service information before purchasing or maintaining an account.
The 2023 23andMe Data Breach
Privacy concerns also increased after a major security incident disclosed in 2023.
Attackers used login details reused from other websites to access a smaller number of individual accounts. Information connected through the DNA Relatives feature then exposed data associated with millions of additional profiles.
The incident demonstrated why genetic accounts require strong, unique passwords and multi-factor authentication.
Customers should:
- Use a password not used anywhere else
- Enable two-step verification
- Review account access
- Avoid sharing login details
- Be careful with downloaded raw DNA files
- Avoid uploading DNA data to unknown websites
Raw genetic data should be treated as sensitive personal information.
Once it is downloaded and shared with another service, the original testing company may no longer control how it is stored or used.
Can You Delete 23andMe Data?
23andMe customers may have options to delete their accounts, withdraw research consent and request destruction of stored biological samples.
The California Attorney General advised customers that they could manage these choices through their account settings. The guidance explained that users could request account deletion, change sample-storage preferences and withdraw from future research participation.
Account deletion may not remove every record immediately or completely.
Some limited information may be retained when required for legal, regulatory or laboratory compliance purposes.
Information already included in completed research may also remain part of existing studies, although withdrawal may prevent future use.
Customers should read the current deletion terms carefully before proceeding because account deletion may be permanent.
Should You Participate in 23andMe Research?
23andMe may invite customers to participate in genetic research.
Research participation is separate from purchasing a test and normally requires consent.
Potential benefits include contributing to scientific studies about genetics, diseases, traits and medications.
Before agreeing, customers should understand:
- What data may be used
- Whether information is de-identified
- Who may receive research results
- Whether commercial partners may benefit
- Whether participants receive compensation
- How consent can be withdrawn
- What happens to existing research data
De-identification reduces privacy risks but may not remove every theoretical risk associated with genetic information.
Consent should be an informed choice rather than something accepted without reading.
Benefits of 23andMe
People may find 23andMe useful for several reasons.
Potential benefits include:
- Exploring ancestry
- Finding genetic relatives
- Learning about inherited traits
- Supporting family-history research
- Receiving selected health insights
- Identifying questions to discuss with a doctor
- Participating in genetic research
The service can make genetics more understandable and accessible to the general public.
It may also encourage people to learn more about family medical history or healthy lifestyle choices.
However, the value of the service depends on realistic expectations.
Possible Drawbacks of 23andMe
Potential disadvantages include:
- Privacy risks
- Unexpected family discoveries
- Anxiety about health reports
- Incomplete genetic coverage
- Results that are difficult to interpret
- Ancestry estimates that change
- Limited usefulness for some populations
- Additional subscription or upgrade costs
- Risk from sharing raw data elsewhere
Some customers may receive emotionally difficult information without immediate access to professional support.
Before testing, consider how you would respond to an unexpected relative or elevated health-risk result.
Who Should Consider 23andMe?
23andMe may appeal to adults who want to explore their genetic ancestry, inherited traits or selected health information.
It may be especially useful for people who:
- Are building a family tree
- Want to connect with biological relatives
- Are curious about ancestry composition
- Understand the limits of consumer DNA testing
- Are comfortable reviewing privacy settings
- Are prepared for unexpected results
It may not be suitable for someone seeking a complete medical diagnosis or a definitive answer about their ancestry.
Questions to Ask Before Buying a DNA Test
Before purchasing a 23andMe kit, ask:
- Which reports are included?
- Are health reports available in my country?
- Is a subscription required for some features?
- How will my saliva sample be stored?
- Will I participate in research?
- Can I delete my data later?
- Who may access my information?
- Am I prepared to discover unknown relatives?
- Will I discuss health results with a professional?
- What happens if the company changes ownership?
These questions apply to most direct-to-consumer DNA testing services, not only 23andMe.
Frequently Asked Questions About 23andMe
What does 23andMe test?
23andMe analyses selected genetic markers from a saliva sample to provide ancestry, trait and, depending on the service, health-related reports.
Is 23andMe a medical test?
Some reports have FDA authorisation, but the service is not a complete medical examination and should not be used alone to diagnose disease.
Can 23andMe find relatives?
Yes. Customers who opt into DNA Relatives may be matched with participating users who share DNA segments.
Can 23andMe tell my exact ethnicity?
No. It provides estimates based on genetic similarities with reference populations. Results do not define nationality, ethnicity or cultural identity.
Can health results be wrong?
Laboratory results may be technically accurate for the variants tested, but interpretation is limited. Important findings should be confirmed through clinical testing.
Is 23andMe still operating?
Yes. Following its 2025 bankruptcy process and acquisition by TTAM Research Institute, the consumer genetic testing service continued operating.
Can I remove my information?
Customers may request account deletion, withdraw research consent and change sample-storage settings, subject to legal and regulatory retention requirements.
Final Thoughts
23andMe can provide an interesting introduction to genetic ancestry, family connections and selected health-related information.
Its ancestry reports may help people explore where their ancestors could have lived and connect with participating genetic relatives.
Its health reports may identify selected variants associated with certain conditions, carrier status or medication processing.
However, these results must be interpreted carefully.
A genetic result does not determine a person’s future. Health is shaped by many factors, and consumer genetic testing does not examine every relevant variant.
Privacy deserves equal attention.
DNA is permanent, personally sensitive and connected to biological relatives. Customers should understand how their information may be stored, used, shared or deleted before submitting a sample.
The company’s bankruptcy, ownership change and previous security incident show why users should not treat privacy policies as paperwork to ignore.
23andMe may be useful for informed adults who understand both the benefits and the limitations of direct-to-consumer genetic testing.
For serious medical concerns, family planning or unexpected health findings, the safest next step is to consult a qualified doctor or genetic counsellor.