Key Takeaways
23andMe is a direct-to-consumer genetic testing company. They distribute DNA collection kits for saliva samples, which are processed to generate ancestry and health reports. While 23andMe's website mentions an average timeline of 4-6 weeks, some users report receiving their results as early as 10 days after 23andMe receives their sample. Factors like shipping delays, lab errors, etc., can further impact this timeline.
About 23andMe
23andMe is a company that provides direct-to-consumer genetic/DNA testing and analysis.
The company has over 12.5 million customers worldwide.
Its primary service is a direct-to-consumer genetic test based on saliva samples.
This test includes information about customers’ ancestry, health, and traits.
23andMe recently filed for bankruptcy in March 2025 due to financial struggles and a major 2023 data breach, leading to the resignation of CEO Anne Wojcicki.
23andMe Process and Timeline: What to Expect
There are multiple steps between registering on 23andMe and receiving your results.
- Create a 23andMe account on the website and order a kit
- Send the sample back to the lab, after which they:
- Prepare your sample
- Extract the DNA from your sample
- Genotype the sample
- Review the DNA data
- Perform the final computation
- Upload the results to your account.
Your homepage keeps you informed about each step of the process.
It shows what stage your sample is on and estimates the date of result delivery.
How Long Does 23andMe Take?
Once your kit is received at the lab, you should receive your results in 4-6 weeks.
Samples mailed from within the United States can take anywhere between 2-4 weeks to reach the lab.
Once you mail your DNA sample back, it can take up to 10 weeks to receive your results. However, many customers report receiving the results much earlier.
These times are estimates.
The company cannot guarantee that you will receive the reports on the date mentioned.
Over the past two years, 23andMe’s wait time seems to have remained under 25-30 days, which is sufficiently quick.
Why Does 23andMe Processing Take Longer Than Expected
Several factors can impact the time it takes to get your results:
- The time it takes to receive the kit upon registering
- The time it takes for you to ship the kit back
- The shipping time
- The processing time at the lab
- The report generation time
Certain samples may require additional steps to be processed successfully, which can further increase the wait time.
About Xcode Life
How Long Does It Take To Get Results From 23andMe UK?
The saliva collection kit is generally dispatched within 1 to 2 business days.
They also offer express shipping at a premium if required.
Once you mail them your unique kit barcode, your reports will be prepared.
In approximately 3 to 4 weeks, once they are ready, an email will inform you that your reports can be accessed in your online account.
AncestryDNA vs. 23andMe: Which Is Faster?
AncestryDNA and 23andMe are two of the most popular DNA analysis companies.
The former has a much bigger database with 18 million users, while the latter has 12 million users.
This could mean that the accuracy of the former is higher than the latter.
According to the AncestryDNA website, “it can take up to 5 weeks from the date you mail in a sample for the laboratory to mark it as arrived, and 8 weeks from the date we receive your sample for your results to be ready.”This means that 23andMe processes your report much quicker (by a couple of weeks to a month) than AncestryDNA.
What Do You Get With The 23andMe Services?
The information in your report depends on the services you have chosen.
23andMe offers four kinds of personal genetic services.
- Ancestry
- Health + Ancestry
- 23andMe+ Premium
- 23andMe+ Total Health
| Service | Description | Price |
| Ancestry | Ancestry breakdown and 30+ trait reports– 80+ personalized reports– Ancestry percentages (to the 0.1%)– 2750+ geographic regions | $99 |
| Health + Ancestry | Everything in Ancestry service +– 150+ personalized reports– FDA-authorized reports– FSA/HSA eligibility | $199 |
| 23andMe+ Premium | Everything in Health + Ancestry service +– Heart health and personalized medicine reports– Health tracker– Health action plan– Historical Matches (new feature) | $199 for the first year, $69/yr after |
| 23andMe+ Total Health | Everything in 23andMe+ Premium +– Next-generation exome sequencing– Biannual blood testing– Access to clinicians | $999 for the first year, $499/yr after |
What Other Information Can I Get?
With the information present in your DNA data, you can uncover insights into several aspects of your health and well-being.
- Vitamin deficiency risk
- Your ideal macro intake
- Weight loss/gain tendencies
- Eating patterns and behavior
- Ideal fitness routine
- Physical injury risk
- Skin health
- Skin disorder risk
- Allergies
- Food intolerances
- Health risks
- Sleep behavior and patterns
- Sleep disorder risk
- Breast cancer status
- MTHFR gene status
- Behavior and personality
- Carrier status
- Drug responses
Update: Accessing 23andMe DNA Data Amidst The Controversy
An important part of your 23andMe result is the DNA data, which you can easily access and download from your account.
Your DNA data provides a massive amount of information that you can use to unlock thousands of insights beyond 23andMe.
Recently, a hacker advertised that they had stolen millions of “pieces of data,” breaking into the DNA relatives feature that allowed the users to compare ancestry information with users worldwide.
While 23andMe is looking into this and attempting to solve it, they have indefinitely blocked the download of DNA data as a security measure. Here’s how you can submit a request to access your DNA data.
To get your DNA raw data, follow the instructions from this page:
How to download your 23andMe Raw Data for 700+ Health Reports
Summary of 23andMe Processing Times
- 23andMe offers DNA kits to submit samples on their website
- A shipped DNA kit reaches the lab in 2-4 weeks
- The lab takes 3-5 weeks to analyze your sample and deliver your results
- Overall, 23andMe turnaround time can be up to 10 weeks
- However, several recent users received their results in 25-30 days
- 23andMe allows you to download the raw data files that you can upload to sites like Xcode Life to obtain valuable insights into your health and wellness.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will 23andMe Tell Me Who My Father Is?
23andMe cannot determine biological parentage.
The site’s ethnicity service helps link users to their genetic relatives.
Can a 23andMe DNA Test Be Wrong?
The company claims an accuracy rate of more than 99% for its BRCA test.
Despite this, the test could produce false positive or negative results.
How Far Back Does 23andMe Go?
Their ancestry test traces your lineage back 8 generations.
Beyond eight generations, it’s hard to track your DNA accurately.
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