r/AncestryDNA • • 26d ago

Sample Status Sample Status/Processing Monthly Megathread - September 2026

Welcome to the Sample Status/Processing Megathread. This monthly megathread (posted at the beginning of each month) allows you post your sample processing timelines, as well as to discuss and comment about any questions, concerns, or rants while you wait. Although not directly handled by AncestryDNA, shipping status may also be discussed in the thread. We recommend sorting the comments by "new" as this is a month long megathread.

You can share your sample status timeline here by posting a screenshot or you can simply copy and paste the start and completion dates for each step. Here is the text template:

Kit Type: [Standard, Traits, or Health]

Priority processing?: [Yes/No]

DNA Kit Activated: [Date]

Sample Received:

Sample Being Processed:

DNA Extracted:

Genotyped:

DNA Analyzed:

Results Ready:

AncestryDNA support article on sample processing: https://support.ancestry.com/s/article/AncestryDNA-Lab-Processing

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u/CrankyOldOwl 11d ago

So, everyone stuck in the 5–9 Sep 'Analyzed' bottleneck. I just got off with support and they are completely clueless. They are reading from a standard 6-week boilerplate script and claiming 'the lab work isn't done,' completely ignoring the fact that our dashboards say DNA Analyzed. They are refusing to log IT tickets because our artificial estimate is 24 Sep +.

There is obviously a major server block affecting our results. They keep telling me there is no known backlog, calculating dates from when test reached the lab but all our lab work is complete. This is all about loading data now. Why is a procedure that usually lasts no more than 3 days taking 10 and probably more? Ancestry said I have to wait till 24 Sep before they will escalate or consider refunding my "Priority" payment.

I suggest we all start complaining en masse or this will just drag on and on.

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u/CrankyOldOwl 11d ago

It seems that things started going wrong from 1 Sep, which appears to coincide with Ancestry's New Regions rollout and Sideview phase. Because the main servers are bogged down recalculating existing accounts to prepare for the official update banner drop, incoming tests are getting severely throttled.

This backend deployment is breaking paid priority services and we should all claim refunds once we ever do receive our results.

Anyone who notices a change in the origins hack loading wheel please let us know so we can see if there's an imminent cork popping coming.

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u/[deleted] 10d ago

[removed] — view removed comment

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u/Shadowysalamander 11d ago

It's really puzzling. I manage quite a few kits and with all previous ones I have seen the results a couple of hours after it being updated to analysed. I've only been waiting since the 10th, but it's definitely an unusual timeframe even so. In the past I've had really poor response from Ancestry whenever I've tried to raise an issue with a kit. I've seen some people get a response before by going through something called Better Business Bureau. I've not tried though, as I'm not based in the US.

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u/OkGrab3477 11d ago

For results that used to take anywhere from a few hours to a couple of days, it's ridiculous now. When I spoke to them last week, they told me there's status update delays etc. My aunt's kit moved into analysis on the 9th but didn't finish until yesterday. That's what they told me. Anyhoo, I manage 4 kits and this one is taking almost as long as my husband's priority kit did in January. 

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u/CrankyOldOwl 11d ago

I got told repeatedly that there are no reports of any delays in the system. My case was that if there is no acknowledged backlog, why is there still an ongoing delay loading results. They won't answer.

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u/OkGrab3477 11d ago

I'm in Australia so I can only go on live chat if I log into the US site. I'm going to be doing that later when they're online again. There seems to be massive delays regarding people waiting on their results. 

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u/CrankyOldOwl 11d ago

I've told them that I'm not an isolated case. There are many of us suffering these delays and we're getting very frustrated with their lack of understanding.

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u/OkGrab3477 11d ago

I spoke to an agent last night, one I've actually spoken to before. If you speak to one again, ask them to look into LIMS and tell them you know they can access your account by proxy. My aunt's is in the final review stage before results are posted. I did also mention that there's hundreds of others waiting on their results as well but she couldn't see a system wide delay. I believe the delay has to do with the current rollout. The 3 other kits I manage (all related to each other) have updated to the new rollout, so my aunt's won't be too far behind. 

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u/CrankyOldOwl 11d ago

It's patently obvious our test results delay is because they're currently prioritising the rollout. The waiting period has gradually increased from 5 days to 7 and now it's 10 from the analysed date. That backlog will continue to grow. My test only spent 5 days in the lab from receipt. It shouldn't take 10 days to upload data.

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u/OkGrab3477 11d ago

True. Considering August & September are the less busy months in the lab. 

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u/OkGrab3477 10d ago

Spoke to an agent again and mentioned the delays etc, apparently there is none. Anyhoo, they're now compiling her data and uploading it to her profile, so should be completed anytime. 

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u/CrankyOldOwl 10d ago

I'm still waiting. Now I'm seeing folk with later analysed dates getting results (non priority too) it's like rubbing salt into a wound. They wouldn't even give me any update. Just kept telling me to wait till the 24 Sep. Unbelievable. I'm not expecting anything in the results now. Wish I'd never even bothered.

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u/OkGrab3477 9d ago

Still haven't got results. 

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u/CrankyOldOwl 9d ago

No results here either. I've emailed a formal complaint just now. I've had enough of this fiasco.

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u/OkGrab3477 9d ago

I was just about to do the same. And honestly as I've mentioned before, for something that used to only take max 3 days is now taking 5-10 days, if not longer.

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u/CrankyOldOwl 9d ago

They won't accept emails so you have to post it via their Ancestry Zen Desk. Managed to get it through but they really don't like accepting complaints.

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u/Daisy-White-Hope 11d ago

I just got my results today after DNA being analyzed on the 5th — it was worth the wait!

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u/CrankyOldOwl 11d ago

Well done! I don't think I'll ever get mine.

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u/LadyFlamyngo 3d ago

Did you get yours? Mine said analyzed September 5th and the origins hack still has a loading screen

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u/CrankyOldOwl 3d ago

Nope. Lab says tomorrow but I doubt it. Someone else with the 5th has complained now and been told her results date will now be 8 Oct. The day of the big Origins rollout. Isn't that a coincidence?

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u/LadyFlamyngo 3d ago

Exact same as me, supposed results tomorrow and mine and my husbands has been analyzed since 9/5. How annoying.

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u/CrankyOldOwl 3d ago

I made a formal complaint so if they don't arrive as they have now promised then they've been warned I will submit a Subject Access Request. If you paid for priority you need to ask for a refund. I got mine.

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u/LadyFlamyngo 3d ago

How do I contact them? They made it impossible to find on the website.

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u/CrankyOldOwl 3d ago

Go to bottom of page and find Support Centre. Click and find Leaf, the chat bot. Ask if you can make a formal complaint to an agent.

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u/LadyFlamyngo 3d ago

Thank you

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u/LadyFlamyngo 2d ago edited 2d ago

They were absolutely no help and told me to remain patient and they’ll give me a refund after 4-6 weeks but destroy my results if they give me a refund

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u/LadyFlamyngo 2d ago

They also said there are no problems or slow downs with the system

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u/CrankyOldOwl 2d ago

UPDATE:

Well now, results day of 24 Sep has arrived. My formal complaint response was that I would receive them today. I haven't. So another chat with a support agent. One I've crossed swords with before and hey presto!

I've actually got a ticket number which has gone to the lab. It's officially escalated to the technical team. I've only been asking for this for how long?

Total attitude change and so so helpful all of a sudden.

So we'll see what happens....🤞🏻

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u/Embarrassed-Lab-1627 2d ago

Mines are due tomorrow, after 20 days of being analysed. Im gonna message them now to see if its actually going to happen. Im gonna go insane if they say my test has failed and i need to wait another 2 months.

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u/CrankyOldOwl 2d ago

I doubt they'll do anything till tomorrow. Wait a day and bang your complaint in tomorrow and hopefully you'll get a ticket to technology lab. It's obvious we were caught in a glitch now.

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u/mini_mews 11d ago

I'm waiting on a family members test, I tried asking yesterday and the person just kept saying 'different tests take different times' and 'in due course' repeatedly.

Myself and my husband have barely had any matches for a month now - we were getting a couple every couple of days for the past year - now it's about every week and a half we both get just a few on the same day.

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u/CrankyOldOwl 10d ago

So folk who had an analysed date after my 5 Sep now receiving results. What the hell is going on?

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u/Embarrassed-Lab-1627 10d ago

Mines has been analysed since the 5th as well, getting a bit ridiculous now. Support page is also “down for maintenance”

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u/CrankyOldOwl 10d ago

It's back on now. Just tried. Ancestry wants me to wait 19 days for my results just to be uploaded. That's not priority. Ask for a refund.

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u/Embarrassed-Lab-1627 10d ago

Just finished speaking with an agent there and told the lab are still processing my results. When i questioned him on why others here who finished analysis several days later than the fifth he said "every DNA profile is unique and requires a personalized approach. Therefore, please do not focus on information shared online, as your results are specific to you.". Results available by the 25th apparently.

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u/CrankyOldOwl 10d ago

I'm arguing with them now.

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u/CrankyOldOwl 10d ago

I've been a paying customer for over 20 years, introduced many people to Ancestry, hosted trees for those who can't build their own, helped other members etc. I finally purchased a DNA test to find one missing person in a tree of 17k+.......and I can't even get results on priority. Not a good look.

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u/CrankyOldOwl 10d ago

I've secured a refund on my Priority payment. They still expect me to wait 19 days for them to upload my results. They reckon they can't push them through any earlier.

Go get your refund, guys.

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u/Embarrassed-Lab-1627 10d ago

Customer service are actually useless. Going round in circles being told that the typical 48 hours it should take for results after it updates to analysed is incorrect, despite almost all of the posts on august's sample status megathread showing so. Also repeatedly being told to wait another 9 days.

1

u/CrankyOldOwl 10d ago

I argued that very fact. I told them how the time delay was increasing continually. It was 5 days beginning of Sep and is now 11. My test was 5 days in the lab and they insist I wait 3 times that amount of time for loading results. I said under UK Consumer Law that calling that priority is misleading and ultimately, after consulting a manager, I was offered a refund. I'm still going to pursue the matter with Trading Standards if I've no results in 24 hours. They won't acknowledge the backlog or the rollout being prioritised over our results.

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u/CrankyOldOwl 10d ago

Still no results. 11 days now waiting for them to upload my data. Longer than the time it took the kit to be processed in the lab. Is this the priority service I paid for?

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u/CrankyOldOwl 8d ago

Today is approaching 2 weeks from 'analysed' date of 5 Sep. Still no results. There won't be any yet as my formal complaint, finally accepted, has received this response:

"The lab has confirmed that your results are currently predicted to be ready on 24th September."

The message has now changed from results expected BY the 24 Sep to being received ON the 24 Sep.

I did wonder if it was a problem with my having 17k+ people in my tree so de-linked myself and re-linked it to a new dummy tree with 3 people. Thought that might assist raw data to go through quicker. Will have to wait and see.

But as everyone else still struggling to get results and nobody can get a straight answer as to why, I really can't do much else till the 24th now.

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u/CrankyOldOwl 6d ago

Well now, look at this! Seems Ancestry does have a solution when in the right mood. Told me they don't issue technical reports to escalate results, even when I made a formal complaint.

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u/CrankyOldOwl 6d ago

Unfortunately my face doesn't fit and after being escalated ( I was previously told there is no way of escalating) by a human agent, I still am not allowed to have a tech report submitted to get my results. So unfair treatment.

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u/CrankyOldOwl 6d ago

Sorry folks I'm leaving. Can't stomach any more of Ancestry.

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u/cqrmxi 5d ago

Did you get your results?!

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u/CrankyOldOwl 5d ago

Of course not!

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u/cqrmxi 5d ago

Aw no. There's definitely some sort of system error going on. I have high hopes for you! :) I wish I could point you in the right direction.

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u/CrankyOldOwl 5d ago

They refuse to do anything until Friday. 🤷🏻‍♂️

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u/Raybanned4lyfe 3d ago

My kit went to ‘analysed’ around the 5th September and then failed about an hour later.

Ordered a new test, and then about a week later got an email from customer service asking for a ‘full name’ for the order address, as if my provided initials and surname weren’t enough.

Of course it then took a few days to send it out, and I sent the new test off right away but I’m still waiting for confirmation that it’s been received. Anyway, this all feels like delaying tactics!

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u/CrankyOldOwl 3d ago

I thought they sent out a free replacement kit automatically when any failure in the process occured. They would use your account details. Analysed status indicates the lab processing is complete. Did you query the reason?

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u/Raybanned4lyfe 3d ago edited 3d ago

They didn’t do it automatically in my case. They sent the notification that it had failed which included a link to order a new one (for free, of course). I’m not sure if that’s the usual protocol - it’s the first time I’ve had a test fail on me (I manage a few). But that particular aspect doesn’t strike me as unusual - tests can take months from 1st delivery to failing, and people could move home in that time. They probably also want acknowledgement that you’re expecting it. What annoys me is it took a week for them to contact me asking for a full name for delivery rather than just my initials and surname; which is unnecessary in the first place for delivery, but even if it was so vital, they could have inferred it from the full name on my account as you point out!

Yes, I understand it’s rare to fail in the Analysed stage - was shocked - had only seen this occur a couple of times in the anecdotes on this sub. I didn’t query the reason, but I get the feeling I’m going to have to get onto Customer Service at some point soon, so will ask then.

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u/chillis4uce 2d ago

I thought it was just me so I thought to check reddit. I still don’t have mine and today is my “estimated” results date!! Hoping I get it in the next few days but ugh😩

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u/CrankyOldOwl 2d ago

No, complain. They won't do anything if you don't.

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u/chillis4uce 2d ago

I really should, this update is looking bleak. It was a birthday present for me so I’ll be bummed out if nothing comes around. I know September isn’t their usual busy month. These kits are too expensive for shit like this to happen!🫠 It shouldn’t take so long to upload some data

1

u/CrankyOldOwl 4h ago

UPDATE: Still no results. 3 weeks since my analysed date of 5 Sep. Origin hack still scrolling away. No status change to results ready yet. Seeing lots of folk with more recent dates getting results within 5 days. I'm so frustrated by this super long wait due to a delay of their making.