Here's the details on the whole process of obtaining DNA. Brand new orders: When an order is placed for a brand new order (doesn't matter if it's Y-DNA, mtDNA, or Family Finder), a kit will be mailed out to your home, either that day or the next day. Sometimes, though, the sales will add an extra day to that, especially after a weekend, as no one is at FTDNA to mail out kits on Saturdays and Sundays. (I just called and the customer service representative says he doesn't know for sure, but he guesses about 2000 kits were sold at this sale!)
Because the kits are in a envelope about 5 inches x 7 inches (about 13 cm x 18 cm) with vials, swabs, and a padded return envelope, they take a little longer to go through the postal service. So they don't get there as fast a regular envelope. So depending on where you live, it may take a week to reach you :( Once you receive the kit, it's up to you as to when you swab (or have the relative swab). Then you mail it back to FTDNA in Houston, Texas. Once FTDNA receives your kit, they scan the bar code and an email is sent out to you as well as the admins saying your kit has been received. Your vials are batched and wait to be sent to the lab. Batches are processed on Wednesdays at 5 pm Central Time. The DNA process: The DNA is first extracted, then sequenced, then it goes through quality control where 2 lab techs must read it forwards, then backwards and then their results are compared to each other. If they don't agree, then they must do it again. Once the results are complete, they are uploaded to your DNA page. An automated email is sent out at 8pm Central Time, stating that your results are ready (so if they were uploaded at 12 noon and you log in at 2 pm, you'll still see your results. You just beat the automated email, is all). For those who have already tested some DNA and ordered more markers or a different type of DNA test: Your vials are pulled the next business day and batched. Then the process is the same as above. Hope this overview gives more insight as to what goes on with your DNA! Cheri Mello Family Tree DNA Admin Azores DNA project -- For options, such as changing to List, Digest, Abridged, or No Mail (vacation) mode, log into your Google account and visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/Azores. Click in the blue area on the right that says "Join this group" and it will take you to "Edit my membership." --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Azores Genealogy" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to azores+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send email to azores@googlegroups.com. Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/azores?hl=en.