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DNA Tests and Family History: What to Know About Privacy

DNA tests can reveal relatives and surprises. Think about privacy and family impact first.

Step by step

  1. Read the privacy policy.
  2. Decide on sharing options.
  3. Prepare for surprises.
  4. Talk with relatives.
  5. Know how to delete your data.

What to expect

Expect a list of questions about sharing, storing and deleting results, and ideas for talking to family about surprises.

Mistakes to avoid

Do not assume results are private forever. Avoid uploading to many sites. Do not treat health reports as diagnoses.

A good next step

Read the company's privacy policy and turn off relative matching if you prefer.

What to know

  • Your data can reveal family information.
  • Policies on sharing and law enforcement access vary.
  • Companies can change their terms or be sold.

Protect your privacy, step by step

  1. Read the privacy policy.
  2. Choose sharing settings carefully.
  3. Opt out of research or matching if you prefer.
  4. Know how to delete your data and sample.
  5. Talk to relatives. Your results can affect them.

A prompt you can copy

Type this into ChatGPT, Claude or Gemini

List the pros and cons of taking a consumer DNA test and the privacy settings I should check first.

Good to know. Your DNA also tells about your relatives, so consider their feelings.

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Common questions

Can police access it?

Policies vary. Read each company's terms.

Are results medical advice?

No.

Can I delete my data?

Most services offer deletion. Read the steps.

Are results medical?

Not usually diagnostic. Speak with a doctor.

Are there scams?

Yes. Be careful with unexpected messages.

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