Once your DNA results arrive from a testing company, the real work begins. Most people glance at the ethnicity estimate, maybe check a few matches, and never go back. But your raw genetic data can reveal far more: family connections you didn’t know existed, health risks worth discussing with your doctor, and even information about how your body processes certain medications. Here’s how to get the most out of what you’ve already paid for.
Download Your Raw Data First
Before you do anything else, download a copy of your raw genetic data file. This is the actual file of your genotyped DNA, and it’s what lets you use third-party tools and services beyond your original testing company. On 23andMe, click your profile name in the top right corner, select “Resources” from the dropdown menu, then choose “Browse Raw Genotyping Data” and hit “Download.” AncestryDNA has a similar process through your settings page. The file you get is a simple text file containing hundreds of thousands of data points across your genome.
Having this file on hand matters because companies can change their terms, shut down, or restrict access over time. 23andMe, for instance, has gone through significant corporate turbulence. Your raw data file is yours to keep regardless of what happens to the company.
Explore Your Ancestry Beyond the Pie Chart
The ethnicity estimate your testing company provides is a starting point, not the full picture. Different companies use different reference populations, which is why your results from AncestryDNA and 23andMe won’t match exactly. The more useful ancestry information often comes from your DNA matches: real people who share segments of DNA with you.
To go deeper, upload your raw data to GEDmatch, a free platform that compares your DNA against users from every major testing company. Its One-to-Many tool finds matches across all platforms, not just the one you tested with. Once you spot an interesting match, the One-to-One comparison tool shows exactly how much DNA you share with that person, helping you estimate the relationship before reaching out. GEDmatch also offers an Admixture tool that breaks down your biogeographical ancestry using different population models, giving you multiple perspectives on your ethnic background that a single company’s algorithm can’t provide.
If you’re building a family tree, DNA matches are the most powerful tool available. Shared DNA segments confirm (or disprove) paper trail research. They can also break through brick walls where records don’t exist, particularly for adoptees, descendants of enslaved people, or anyone researching regions with poor record-keeping. Start by sorting your matches by the amount of shared DNA, then work outward from the closest matches, since those relationships are the easiest to identify.
Understand What Health Reports Actually Tell You
If your test included health reports, it’s important to understand what they do and don’t mean. A genetic health risk report is not a diagnosis. It identifies variants associated with a higher probability of developing certain conditions, but probability is not certainty. Your lifestyle, environment, and the rest of your genome all play a role.
Consumer health risk assessments and dietary guidance services sometimes lack sufficient clinical validation, and there can be a real gap between what they advertise and what they actually deliver. Treat genetic screening results as a reference point rather than a definitive answer about your health. A result showing elevated risk for a condition like celiac disease or macular degeneration is worth mentioning to your doctor, who can order clinical-grade testing if warranted. A result showing no elevated risk doesn’t guarantee you won’t develop that condition.
The variants tested by consumer companies also represent only a fraction of the known risk variants for any given condition. 23andMe’s BRCA report, for example, tests for three specific variants common in people of Ashkenazi Jewish descent. There are thousands of other BRCA variants that consumer tests don’t cover. A “no variants detected” result could give false reassurance if you have a strong family history of breast or ovarian cancer.
Check How Your Body Processes Medications
One of the most practical things buried in your DNA data is pharmacogenomic information: how your body metabolizes certain drugs. The FDA maintains a table of pharmacogenetic associations listing dozens of medications where genetic variants significantly change how the drug works in your body.
A few examples of where this matters most:
- Pain medications: Variants in the gene that processes codeine can make some people “ultrarapid metabolizers,” converting the drug into its active form much faster than normal. This creates dangerously high concentrations and a real risk of life-threatening respiratory depression.
- Antidepressants and psychiatric medications: Genetic variants affect how the body handles many common antidepressants and antipsychotics. Poor metabolizers end up with higher drug concentrations in their system, increasing the risk of side effects.
- Blood thinners: Warfarin dosing is heavily influenced by genetic variants that alter how the drug is broken down. Too much can cause dangerous bleeding; too little offers no protection.
- Immune-suppressing drugs: Certain genetic variants change how the body processes immunosuppressants, requiring significant dose adjustments to avoid toxicity.
Some third-party services can analyze your raw DNA file for pharmacogenomic markers. If you’re starting a new medication in any of these categories, sharing this information with your prescribing doctor can help them choose the right drug and dose from the start, rather than going through weeks of trial and error.
Know the Privacy Trade-Offs
Every time you upload your DNA to a new platform, you’re sharing the most permanent identifier you have. Unlike a password, you can’t change your genome. Before uploading anywhere, read the terms carefully, paying attention to who owns the data, how long they keep it, and whether they share it with third parties.
Consumer DNA companies have faced scrutiny for their data retention practices. Ancestry’s terms, for example, have been criticized by consumer protection attorneys for effectively retaining ownership of DNA data in perpetuity, even though the customer’s direct rights over it are more limited. Best practices in the industry call for transparency about how genetic information is collected, used, and shared, along with clear options for consumers to consent to research participation and request destruction of their physical DNA samples. Not every company follows these practices equally.
If you upload to GEDmatch or similar tools, keep in mind that law enforcement has used these databases to identify suspects through their relatives’ DNA. GEDmatch now requires users to opt in to law enforcement matching, but the possibility is worth considering before you upload.
Understand Your Legal Protections
In the United States, the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA) prevents health insurers and employers from using your genetic information against you. Your health insurance company cannot deny you coverage or raise your premiums based on a genetic predisposition to a disease, and your employer cannot use genetic results in hiring or firing decisions.
GINA has a significant gap, though. It does not cover life insurance, long-term care insurance, or disability insurance. Insurers in these markets can, in most states, ask about genetic test results and use them in underwriting decisions. Some states have passed their own laws extending protections to these types of insurance, but coverage varies widely. If you’re planning to apply for life or long-term care insurance, it may be worth doing so before pursuing genetic testing, particularly if you have a family history of conditions like Huntington’s disease or early-onset Alzheimer’s, where a positive genetic result is highly predictive.
Connect With Unexpected Matches Thoughtfully
DNA testing regularly surfaces surprises: half-siblings people didn’t know about, misattributed parentage, donor-conceived individuals finding biological relatives. If your results reveal an unexpected close match, take some time before reaching out. The person on the other end may not know about the connection either, or may already know and have chosen not to pursue it.
When you do reach out, keep the initial message brief and neutral. Mention the shared DNA amount and that you’re trying to understand the connection. Avoid leading with assumptions about the relationship. Many testing platforms have built-in messaging systems that let both parties communicate without sharing personal contact information until they’re ready. Online communities dedicated to “DNA surprises” can also offer guidance from people who’ve navigated similar situations.