Before results arrive, confirm which files you get, how long links last and whether you have space. On download day, save every file and report, verify each one, and write down the reference build and lab details. Then back up, think before uploading anywhere, read the retention and deletion policy, and keep a dated one-page record.
Raw data is not a diagnosis. Anything that looks medically important should go to a clinician and be confirmed by a clinical lab.
Getting your raw genome data is a small project, not a single click. Files can be large, download links can expire, and the details you will need later (which reference genome was used, which lab ran the sample) are easiest to capture on the day you download. This checklist puts the steps in order. Work through it once, keep the record from the last step, and you will not have to reconstruct anything years from now.
It deliberately stays light on detail we cover elsewhere. For what each file actually contains, see FASTQ, BAM and VCF explained. For backups, integrity checks and encryption, see how to store and back up your genome files.
Before your results arrive
- Confirm which files you will get. A whole genome service may offer FASTQ (the raw reads), BAM or CRAM (reads aligned to a reference genome) and VCF (the list of places where you differ from that reference), plus PDF reports. Genotyping tests from ancestry companies work differently: Ancestry and 23andMe, for example, give you a zipped text file of the markers their chip measured. Ask whether every file is included in the price or sold separately, and whether any of them sits behind a subscription. Get the answer in writing if you can.
- Find out how files are delivered, and for how long. Some providers prepare files on request, and links can be time-limited. Ancestry’s help page says its DNA data link works once and expires after a week. 23andMe says preparing the raw data file usually takes about a week and can take up to 30 days. Whole genome files are far larger, so ask whether they come as a browser download, a cloud transfer or a mailed drive, how long they stay available, and whether retrieving them later costs extra.
- Make room first. A full set of whole genome files can run to tens or even hundreds of gigabytes. Check you have space on the computer you will download to and on the drives you plan to copy to afterwards, so a half-finished download is not your only copy.
On download day
- Download everything, not just the headline file. Save the raw files, every PDF report, any quality or summary sheet, and your order confirmation. Keep the original filenames. Reports can be redesigned, moved or withdrawn from a portal, and the version you were given is the one your decisions were based on.
- Check each file arrived intact. Large downloads can fail without an error message. If the provider publishes checksums (short fingerprints such as MD5 or SHA-256 values), compare them with your copies now, while you can still download again. The backup guide linked above walks through the commands.
- Write down the reference build. Every position in a BAM, CRAM or VCF file is a coordinate on one specific version of the human reference genome, usually GRCh37 or GRCh38. The VCF specification recommends that the file’s header describe the reference and contigs behind the data, so open the first lines of the VCF and look for a
##referenceline or##contiglines. If it is unclear, ask support and save the reply. Our GRCh37 vs GRCh38 guide explains why a mismatch quietly breaks tools. - Note who made the files and how. Record the lab name, your kit or sample ID, the sequencing date, the stated average coverage and, if the provider lists them, the software versions used for alignment and variant calling. These details matter if you later want your data reanalyzed or a clinician asks how the data was generated.
Storing and sharing
- Back up before you do anything else. The short version: three copies, on two kinds of storage, with one away from home, and encryption on any copy that leaves your control. The full method is in our storage guide, so we will not repeat it here.
- Decide before you upload to any third-party tool. Once a file is on your computer, the original company’s security no longer covers it. Ancestry’s help page says this plainly, and 23andMe states that it “cannot secure Personal Information that you release on your own.” Before uploading to an analysis or matching site, read who can access the data, whether research use is optional, whether you can delete it, and whether law enforcement matching is on or off (see police and genetic genealogy databases). Upload the smallest file that does the job, usually the VCF rather than the whole archive.
- Lock down the account, too. The provider’s portal still holds your data after you download it. Use a strong password you do not use anywhere else and turn on multifactor authentication if it is offered, as the FTC recommends for DNA testing accounts.
Retention and deletion
- Read the retention and deletion policy, and save a copy. Look for answers to three questions. How long are the raw files kept? Is your physical sample stored, and can you ask for it to be destroyed? What does deleting your account remove, and what may the company keep for legal reasons? Deleting data and destroying a sample are often separate requests. The order matters: download and verify first, delete second, because once data is deleted you may not be able to get the files back. Can you really delete your DNA data? covers what deletion does and does not reach.
If you want to use it medically
- Treat raw data as a starting point, not a diagnosis. Consumer raw data is generally not validated for clinical use. 23andMe, for example, says only a subset of the markers in its raw file has been individually validated and that the data is for informational use, not medical or diagnostic use. In a 2018 study in Genetics in Medicine, a clinical laboratory re-tested variants people had found in their consumer raw data and reported that 40% were false positives. If something looks important, take it to a doctor or genetic counselor, and expect it to be confirmed by a clinical lab before anyone acts on it. Do not change medication or treatment based on raw data alone. Our guide on how to bring DNA results to your doctor explains how to raise it.
Clinical sequencing is different. If your genome was sequenced by a clinical laboratory that is a HIPAA covered entity, the US Department of Health and Human Services says you can request more than the report: the right of access includes the underlying information generated by the test, and for next-generation sequencing that can include the full gene variant information. Consumer companies outside HIPAA follow their own terms, which is why step 1 matters.
Keep a record
- Keep a one-page record of what you checked. A plain text note or spreadsheet is enough. Store it with your backups and keep a second copy somewhere you can find without the drives, such as a note in your password manager.
| Record | What to write down |
|---|---|
| Provider and product | Company, exact test name, order and kit ID |
| Files | Each filename, size, date downloaded and checksum |
| How the data was made | Lab, reference build, stated coverage, software versions if listed |
| Where copies live | Each drive or service, and when you last tested a restore |
| Your choices | Research consent, relative matching, any third-party uploads |
| Policies and replies | Saved copies of retention and deletion pages, plus support emails, each with the date you saved it |
Dates matter more than they seem. Policies change, and companies change hands: the 2025 sale of 23andMe after its bankruptcy is a recent example. A dated copy of the terms you agreed to, and a note of when you last checked them, makes any later request much easier. A quick review once a year, when you test your backups, is a sensible habit.
If you have not bought a test yet, the easiest way to make this checklist work is to choose one that hands you the files in the first place.
Want the full 30× genome instead of a partial test?
Dante Labs sequences your whole genome and lets you download the raw FASTQ, BAM and VCF files. When we checked on October 25, 2026, it listed the test from $449 with 90+ reports included and results in 6–8 weeks.
Check Dante’s current offer →Code: GENOMEAffiliate link. Prices and promotions change, and codes may not combine with sitewide sales. Confirm the final price at checkout.
Common questions
Which genome file should I download first?
Download everything that is offered, but if you must prioritize, start with the VCF and your reports. They are small and hold the most commonly used information. Then fetch the larger BAM or CRAM and FASTQ files.
How do I know which reference build my files use?
Open the first lines of your VCF and look for a ##reference line or ##contig lines, which often name GRCh37 or GRCh38. If the header does not say, ask the provider and save the answer in your records.
Should I delete my data from the company after downloading it?
That is your choice, but only delete after you have downloaded every file, checked it is intact and made backups. Deleting data and destroying a stored sample are often separate requests, so read the policy for both.
Can I use my raw data to make health decisions?
Not on its own. Consumer raw data is generally not validated for medical use, and errors happen. Share anything concerning with a doctor or genetic counselor, who can arrange clinical confirmation testing.
Is it safe to upload my raw data to third-party sites?
It depends on the site. Once uploaded, the data follows that site’s rules, not the original company’s. Check access, research use, deletion and law enforcement settings first, and share the smallest file that does the job.
Sources and verification
In October 2026 we checked Ancestry’s and 23andMe’s raw data help pages (download timing, link expiry, validation and security statements), the VCF 4.3 specification, the HHS HIPAA access FAQ, the FTC’s DNA kit privacy advice and the 2018 Genetics in Medicine false-positive study. We did not state file sizes, retention periods or fees for any specific provider because they vary and change; check your provider’s current terms.
- Ancestry Support: Downloading DNA Data
- 23andMe Support: Accessing Your Raw Genetic Data
- VCF 4.3 specification (hts-specs)
- HHS: Right to access genomic information generated by a clinical laboratory (FAQ 2048)
- FTC Consumer Advice: If DNA test kits are on your holiday shopping list (Dec 2023)
- Tandy-Connor et al., Genetics in Medicine (2018): false positives in DTC raw data
Medical disclaimer. GenomeTesting.org publishes educational content about genetics and consumer genomic testing. Nothing here is medical advice, a diagnosis, or a substitute for care from a qualified clinician or genetic counsellor. Decisions about testing, treatment, or interpreting your own results should be made with a healthcare professional who can see your full history.
Affiliate disclosure. Some links on this page are affiliate links. If you buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. This never changes which products we recommend or what we say about them.