AncestryDNA Test Kit Review | Living science

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There are so many DNA testing kits out there, it can be difficult to choose the one that’s right for you. In the past few years, DNA testing to find out the facts of your genetic makeup has become more popular than ever before, and each test has something unique to offer.

Basic information

Communicate with close and distant relatives

Information on genealogy and ancestry

Family trees built by available relatives

Start/build your own family trees

Features are available for an additional fee

Regional mapping

Training videos and in-system content

Continuous updates based on data development

Create a public profile for others to view

StoryScout shows the personal stories of family members

While there are some tests that offer detailed medical and health data, others focus primarily on ancestry, and when we consider the name, it can be easy to see which way the AncestryDNA test kit leans. While you won’t get the same health data you’ll find in other tests, the genealogy and family tree information from Ancestry is the main attraction.

If you are looking for the best DNA test kit, the AncestryDNA test may be the right choice for you, especially if you are looking for more information about your heritage and your family. Fortunately, we tested the kit. Here’s everything we found.

AncestryDNA Test Kit Review: Fees and Shipping

The $99 kit includes the kit itself as well as pedigree and family tree information
Membership levels range from $21.99 to $59.99 per month

In general, the AncestryDNA test kit itself costs $99 as a flat fee, and that fee includes the kit itself as well as genealogy and family information. However, there are additional buy-ins and options you can add to your Ancestry experience, such as the Traits feature for an additional $20.

Also, the Ancestry membership does not come with the kit itself. There are tiered memberships that range in price from $21.99 to $59.99 per month. Membership usually comes with other historical information and access, not necessarily health data. Military records, historical documents, and other similar information usually come with this membership.

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AncestryDNA Test Kit Review: Using the DNA Test Kit

The Ancestry kit comes in a compact and recognizable box. The box is even labeled as an Ancestry kit on the outside, and should fit in a standard mailbox in most cases.

The instructions included were simple and clear, especially for the ease of the process. All you have to do is spit into the included tube and fill it up to the line. You should also not eat or drink for 30 minutes beforehand (this includes water, brushing your teeth and chewing gum). After you spit into the tube, you shake it, close it, and mail it with a prepaid shipping label in the included box. The process is simple and relatively similar to any other DNA test you might expect.

AncestryDNA test

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AncestryDNA Test Kit Review: Test Results

It took us about five to six weeks to get the test results, although the company says it can take up to eight weeks.

The main event of this test is the origin data, as the name might suggest. Our tester was split almost 50% and 50% between Jewish and Irish, which she already knew her ethnicity to be. However, the results were much more in-depth into genealogy than other available tests, including information on countries and regions of origin, as well as historical graphs of these groups of people in different locations.

AncestryDNA test

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This test was also able to detect traces of Germanic and Baltic ancestry that the other tests did not, indicating that a larger DNA sample size may have been helpful in this case.

Ancestry also offers direct matches for family members and relatives with complete profiles and the ability to create your own. Elements like StoryScout also allowed our tester to see direct information and documents about ancestors and relatives, including grandparents, great-grandparents, and second-great-grandparents. Most of these people were born/lived in Russia.

Our tester noted that pedigree and genealogy information make up the bulk of the experience, as character traits and health data are not available in the standard package.

AncestryDNA Test Kit Review: Customer Reviews

The overall customer rating on Amazon averages 4.7 stars (notably the same as the 23andMe test). However, Google reviews see a drop as low as 2.4 stars. Reviews of AncestryDNA are actually quite polar, showing a mix of very satisfied users and those who warn against it at all costs because of the additional fees. Really, it seems to depend on what you want from the test, and what information you need is already included in the standard package.

AncestryDNA test

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One reviewer in particular wrote, “Love my AncestryDNA! Got results in a few weeks. More than 400 relatives were found. Very accurate provenance results. I already knew most of the origins/regions and the ones I didn’t were not surprising. As more people are tested, the DNA is updated to be more and more accurate. I believe that this is done every year. I have been in contact with several relatives and am very happy to have done so through Ancestral DNA.’

Another wrote: “Waste of money for what you get. I was very excited to learn more about my ancestry, I have wanted to do this for so long. I’m no longer excited, but disappointed. I got the results back and they only show where I could be from. Either a mixture of Poland or Russia. I see my relatives showing their “username” and that they are my 1st, 2nd, or 3rd cousins. From which side of the family is a mystery.”

Should I use AncestryDNA?

If you’re considering using AncestryDNA as your DNA test of choice, we’d say you need to know what you’re looking for and what you’re likely to find. If you’re looking for health and trait data, this probably isn’t for you, however, if that’s not your goal, this is one of the best in genealogy and family information.

If you’re looking for relatives, family trees, historical documents, and ethnicity information, Ancestry is sure to give you exactly what you’re looking for.

AncestryDNA Test Kit Review: If This Product Isn’t For You

23 and me

23andMe DNA Testing Kit

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If you are looking for health data, as well as genealogical and ancestry information, then you may prefer 23andMe DNA Testing Kit. Although it will cost you about $100 more than the most basic AncestryDNA package, it will be able to predict factors such as sleep patterns, ideal diet and body composition.