Your 'Personal Page" at FTDNA                                     Follow our Step-by-Step Guide!
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When you are tested at FTDNA, you get access to a "personal page" that lets you control what happens with the test results. 
Using your personal page at FTDNA is a very important part of getting the most out of your DNA testing, so spend a little time making sure you have taken advantage of all the options you are given.

To see an example of  a personal page at FTDNA for a standard user, click here. 

Access to this page is given in two steps (which we call "Stage 1" and "Stage 2").  

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Stage 1  (Access Personal Page)--The part of the personal page you are given as soon as your test kit is returned.

When your kit is returned, you will be given limited access to your "personal page" at FTDNA.  You will need your kit number and a password (which FTDNA will send to you) to get into your “personal page”.

During Stage 1, you will have the ability to:  

  • Order Tests & Upgrades  (Standard and Advanced options)
    • FTDNA has divided their orders into standard and advanced. (You will find most of the tests you want in the standard orders selection.
    • Standard Orders include Y-DNA 12, 25, 37, 67. and upgrades between them, as well as mtDNA mtDNA Plus, and mtDNA Full Sequence, and their upgrades.
    • Advanced Orders include individual markers and panels, X Chromosome, and Autosomal DNA.
    • FTDNA can run all the tests you order from your initial sample.  They commit to retain your sample for 25 years.
  • Order Certificates --To see samples of the certificates from FTDNA, click here.
  • Modify your Contact Information. (Be sure to edit your email address if it changes. You can also give access to a second person by listing his/her email address here. )
  • DNA Test Progress will be reported as the lab processes it.  Keep in mind that the target results date is an estimate. If your result is more than a week late, typically FTDNA is rerunning the test in order to be certain of your result.

However, you do not have access to most parts of the FTDNA structure until your results are in.  You cannot join additional projects or make comparisons outside the project at this stage.

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 Stage 2  (Update Personal Page)--The part of the personal page you are given after your results are returned to you.

(You may not see all the items that appear below on your personal page; some are for Y-DNA tests, some are for mtDNA tests, and a few are for both.)

When the lab finishes processing the sample and your results are returned to you, you will be notified by email.  You will then have much more access and options, and will be able to adjust your preferences, such as determining whether you compare to results outside of the project. 

Here are some tips for using your Personal Page:     

Groups (left column) --this box has a pulldown list that shows all the groups  (surname, haplogroup, or geographic project) you have joined.     

  • Some people do not choose to compare outside of their group, so you need to be sure you have selected the group you specifically want to compare against.
  • In order to join a group, click on the blue "Join" button just below the Group box.  You will be shown a listing of all the groups that include your surname, followed by a search box and alphabetical listing for surname, geographical and haplogroup projects. 
  • Y-Search  - If you have joined Y-Search, you will have a short-cut button that shows up below your Group box.
  • Mito-Search - If you have joined mitosearch, you will have a short-cut button that shows up below your Group box.
  • You are allowed to be in two surname, one Y-Haplogroup, one mt-Haplogroup, and one geographic project.

 “User Preferences” -- the first thing you will want to click on in the left-hand column.  This will take you to the page where you can make your choices about  

  • Setting preferences for matching within your surname or against everyone who has opted into FTDNA's database
  • Which matches to show you (you will receive an email when you have matches)
  • “Displaying the Most Distant Known Ancestor” is a very important piece of information.   Here you will list your earliest known paternal ancestor (relates to your yDNA test) and your earliest known maternal ancestor (relates to your mtDNA test - if you have one).  This allows your results to be linked to your ancestor and gives researchers a way to begin building lineages within your surname project. 

 Gedcom----a common file format that allow genealogists to exchange information about their ancestors.  Once uploaded, your GEDCOM will be able to be viewed only by you, the Project Administrator, and those that have matches with you.

 Genographic Project -- For a fee of $15 you can join your result to the National Geographic Genographic Project, a fascinating project that will give you insight into your deep ancestral origins. (This option will not show on your personal page if you do not have a haplogroup estimate.)

 Y-DNA Matches -- FTDNA provides a lot of information in this section.  Here are a few generalities: 

  • You will receive the name and email address of each reported match.  You can contact your matches by clicking on the email address.
  • A 12-marker match is generally inadequate for genealogy purposes.  Most researchers will not respond to a contact about a 12-marker match, and many researchers don't even allow comparison of their 12-marker results.
  • A 25-marker match should be at least 23/25.  Many researchers consider this match to be sufficient if you share a surname. 
  • A 37-marker match should be at least 33/37.  We consider this to be the lowest matching level for those of different surnames (unless they have connecting paper trails.)
  • A 67-marker match should be at least 61/67.  FTDNA recommends this test when comparing to others with a different surname.  This test is particularly useful in trying to better understand a large genetic family.
  • General comments:
    • When you compare with another test, be sure you compare only at the highest number of markers that have been tested. 
    • The number in parenthesis in your "Matches Found" listing is the number of markers tested by that individual.  If it is more than yours, you will gain by upgrading to compare at the same number of markers the other individual has tested.
  • Joining Y-Search -- This is where FTDNA has "hidden" this important option.  Uploading to Y-Search puts your results into the public database operated by FTDNA.

Recent Ancestral Origins --  This interesting, but sometimes confusing, page tells you the ancestral origin reported by the other people you match.  

  • If you have not reported your own paternal or maternal country of origin, and you are confident of this information, click on "Modify Contact Information" and provide this information.
  • It's important to note both the number of matches you have for a country and how many people in the database (shown in parenthesis after the country's name) have reported that country of origin.  (For example, if you have 6 matches from England and 3 from France, you may want to focus more on France, as the number of people from France who have been tested is so much smaller - this means that the proportion from France who match you is much higher.)

Haplogroup --This is your deep ancestral origin.  This will report the number of men that you match at different haplogroup designations and is subdivided by country. 

  • Most participants have a haplogroup estimate that was derived by comparing their results with others who have the same result and who have been SNP tested. (Estimated haplogroups are shown in red on our results page.)
  • Haplogroups are reported in varying degrees of detail.  Each level of specificity is defined by an additional letter or number.  The longer the reported haplogroup designation, the more specific it is.  When haplogroups are reported with different levels of specificity, it can be confusing.   Here are examples of haplogroups where the men can or cannot share a recent common ancestor.
    • These men can share a recent common ancestor:  R1b, R1b1, R1b1c - as the differences are levels of specificity.  Another example:  I, I1b, I1b2
    • These men cannot share a recent common ancestor:  R1b1c, R1b1d .  Anytime the specificity is the same and the last character is not matching, these men do not share a recent common ancestor.
  • Scroll to the bottom of this page for a description of FTDNA's haplogroups that are near your result.
  • Some participants do not have a haplogroup estimate.  FTDNA has committed to providing a haplogroup estimate for every participant.  This will require an additional test at FTDNA's expense--which is the good news.  The downside is that you don't know how long this process will take.

Haplogroup Test (SNP Test) - This is where FTDNA has "hidden" this important test. 

  • You will choose this test if you want your haplogroup substantiated by a test.  (Haplogroups determined by SNP testing are shown in green on our results page.)
  • You can order your own SNP test if you want to be sure of a timely answer if FTDNA has been unable to estimate your haplogroup and you don't want to wait.
  • Most SNP tests will provide a more specific result.
  • Projects have been established for most haplogroups.  It can be helpful to join your haplogroup project.

Y-DNA DYS Values -- FTDNA reports your specific results on this page. DYS is the location on the DNA strand, and the alleles are the number of times a pattern repeats at that location.  When we compare results, we are looking for alleles that are the same.

 MTDNA Matches --  

  • You will receive the name and email address of each reported match.  You can contact your matches by clicking on the email address.
  • Matches are reported as low-resolution matches and high-resolution matches.
    • Low resolution matches may indicate a shared common ancestor which may be recent or may date to several thousand years ago. 
    • High resolution matches will indicate a more recent common ancestry, but may still predate known paper trails.
  • Joining MitoSearch.org -- This is where FTDNA has "hidden" this important option.  Uploading to Mito-Search puts your results into the public database operated by FTDNA.

MTDNA Recent Ancestral Origins -- This interesting, but sometimes confusing, page tells you the ancestral origin reported by the other people you match.  

  • If you have not reported your own paternal or maternal country of origin, and you are confident of this information, click on "Modify Contact Information" and provide this information.
  • It's important to note both the number of matches you have for a country and how many people in the database (shown in parenthesis after the country's name) have reported that country of origin.  (For example, if you have 6 matches from England and 3 from France, you may want to focus more on France, as the number of people from France who have been tested is so much smaller - this means that the proportion from France who match you is much higher.)

MTDNA Results --  FTDNA reports your specific results on this page.  FTDNA strongly encourages you to read their MTDNA Results Tutorial.  You will also find FTDNA discussion about your haplogroup on this page.

 

                                                                                                                            

"This information is for the private use of any genealogical researcher to further their own knowledge. It is not to be reprinted in any form without the written permission of the World Families Network."


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