MyHeritage DNA Test Kit: Genetic Testing for Ancestry & Ethnicity Covering 2,114 Geographic Regions and DNA Matching to Relatives

UPDATED 9/4/19 following results. See below. In recent months I’ve bought a couple of ancestry dna kits. Each offers something a little different and together, the data and information returned is building a complex and fascinating picture of my roots. This kit is beautifully presented and if you were looking for a gift, it’s certainly quality packaging. The test itself is very easy to undertake. The kit has a unique identifier code and you need to register on the myheritage site in order to input the code and activate the test process. There are two vials with screwtops and two sterile sealed swabs. You open one swab pack and use the stick to wipe round the cheek inside your mouth for around a minute. Then drop the swab end into the vial, break off the stick and close firmly. Repeat for other cheek, then place both vials in the supplied bag and seal in provided envelope. The contents are returned to Houston, Texas (postage was £3.30 air mail). Results are promised within 4 to 6 weeks and I’ll update this review with detail of the information they give. So far, very impressed and believe the data will add to the detail of my family background. I already know my Haplogroup and subclade from another test, so this will, I hope, give more information about specific areas. UPDATE 9/4/19 Results took longer than expected, but MyHeritage did keep me informed about delay (some systems upgrade). The data is very easy to follow and supports findings from other two tests. The ethnicity details are more refined than on Ancestry, with a lot of very specific data about European and Central American background. I’m impressed by the accuracy and even more impressed by a list of >2500 DNA matches by name and location. Various system tools allow you to identify relatives by country, ethnicity or closeness of match. Contact is free, access to their trees etc requires membership. There are three levels depending on what info you require. Currently, I’ve just used free contact to find out more info directly from individuals who are happy to help. MyHeritage has provided more contacts than Ancestry and there’s less American bias. Overall, I think this was a worthwhile investment and it’s added a lot of interesting background to the other tests. I’m happy to recommend as either a starter kit as a taster and potentially an invaluable tool for more detailed genealogy. You can upload raw data too.

Bought this MyHeritage DNA kit for my wife, thinking it would just tell her she’s 40% this, 30% that, and maybe confirm she’s definitely more organised than me. A few weeks after her results came in, a long‑lost relative popped up on the website and sent her a message. Now they’re in constant contact, swapping stories, photos, and enough family history to fill a documentary. So yes — the kit works. Maybe a little too well. Use with caution unless you’re ready for surprise relatives.

After months of considering this test I eventually decided to give it a go. The kit arrived with clear instructions and the need to register online. After completing the cheek swabs I duly secured them in the vials provided and sent them off via the post office for an additional cost of £9.75 (tracked). Having previously read many reviews I was expecting to wait 4 to 8 weeks, but it took just 3 weeks before I could view the results online... I'm English born and bred, my parents are both English born and bred, as are all my grandparents, yet the results came back 47% English, 46% Scandinavian and 6% Iberian. What I did find fascinating were the three circled sections. The first inner circle is 'Close Family' of which there were one, my half brother (27.1% match), who hadn't told me he had done the test so I wasn't expecting him to pop up, but sure enough he was there. MH's estimate was that this match was either a half-brother or nephew... Impressive! The second was 'Extended Family' and I found that I had a first cousin, once removed (5%) who I'd never met or even heard of before. I've left him a message and will update this again if contact is made and it is proven that we are in fact related. After my half-brother I have little doubt that we are. The final section consisted of 4996 matches showing people from all over the world that have a small match (1.1% or less in my case) which are stated as 3rd or 4th (or higher) cousins. All in all an interesting first step into the world of DNA and ancestry.

Excellent

Sam produkt bardzo ciekawy i nie żałuje zakupu jednak spodziewałem się SPORO więcej! Mapka którą załączyłem to praktycznie wszystko co dostałem. Brak dokładniejszych informacji co do pochodzenia, brak jakichkolwiek dodatkowych informacji w pakiecie podstawowym. Większość funkcji dostępnych na stronie wymaga opłacenia abonamentu. Nie żałuję ale wybrał bym inną firmę jak bym miał jeszcze raz decydować o zakupie. Pozdrawiam

Funkade bra

Easy to do

Great

Lo he comprado para mi madre puesto que yo ya tengo el mío hecho con esta misma compañía y quedé muy satisfecho. El kit está muy bien diseñado para que lo recibas y recojas la muestra en unos minutos. Es sorprendentemente sencillo incluso para los manazas como yo :D. Los resultados, súper interesantes. En primer lugar, te los muestran en español -otros que yo había visto estaban en inglés- y con un mapa y unas músicas muy chulas para que sitúes tus orígenes a nivel mundial. Luego, es genial entrar una vez a la semana porque sigue dándote más información. Semanas y meses después (yo me hice el mío hace unos meses y siguen llegándome coincidencias) te van poniendo personas de todo el mundo relacionadas con tu ADN. Está muy bien porque ellos mismos te aclaran la intensidad de la relación y a qué equivaldría en tu árbol familiar: primo segundo, primo, tío abuelo... a mi no me ha aparecido todavía un hermano secreto o algo así pero a otros sí por lo he visto en Internet... :DDDDD. En resumen, yo lo recomiendo. En mi caso, me ha contado cosas súper chulas que no sospechaba, me ha animado a hacerme mi árbol familiar con ellos porque es gratuito y ya me han aparecido coincidencias que he ido añadiendo. Además de mi madre se lo haré a más parientes, especialmente a los más mayores porque creo que van a ir sacando más cosas del ADN en el futuro y tener las muestras de nuestros ascendientes será como un tesoro.