The 23andMe reviewing stage usually lasts a few days, but timelines vary within the 4–6 week lab process.
The review step sits near the end of 23andMe’s lab pipeline. It comes after genotyping and just before your reports go live. While the whole process from lab receipt to results often lands in the 4–6 week window, the internal review can move fast for clean samples and stretch when quality checks flag items. Below you’ll find clear ranges, what drives slowdowns, and simple steps to keep your kit moving.
Where The Review Step Fits In The 23andMe Pipeline
Every kit moves through a set of statuses inside your account: registered, received at the lab, prepped, DNA extraction, genotyping, review, computation, and results ready. The review stage is the human and automated quality control that checks call rate and data sanity before computation wraps the final reports.
| Stage | What Happens | Usual Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Registered / Kit Activated | Your tube is linked to your account; shipping to the lab begins. | 1–7 days (shipping speed) |
| Arrived At Lab | Intake scan and queue placement. | 1–3 days |
| Prepped | Sample is tracked, labeled, and prepared for extraction. | 1–3 days |
| DNA Extraction | Cells from saliva are processed to isolate DNA. | 1–5 days |
| Genotyping | DNA is read on a chip to generate variant calls. | 2–10 days |
| Review | Quality checks validate call rate and consistency. | 1–10 days (varies) |
| Computation | Back-end builds trait, health,* and ancestry reports. | 1–7 days |
| Results Ready | Reports unlock in your account; emails are sent. | — |
*The exact set of health features depends on your kit type and regional availability.
So, How Long Is The Review Step?
For many customers, the review stage wraps within a few days. Some accounts sit on that status for a week or a bit longer, especially during peak volume or when the quality team runs extra checks. The wide lab estimate (4–6 weeks total from lab receipt) covers these swings and keeps expectations realistic.
What triggers extra checks? Call rate—the share of markers read successfully—needs to meet a high threshold. If the rate dips, the lab reviews results and may repeat parts of the workflow. The team also checks that reported sex matches genetic sex and that the data set looks internally consistent. These safeguards protect the accuracy of ancestry and health interpretations.
What The Company Says About Timing
On its help pages, the company gives a 4–6 week estimate from the time your tube reaches the lab. It also confirms the set of status labels you see in your account, including the review and computation steps. You can track the live status on your profile page and you’ll get emails when major milestones change. If your kit sits in one status longer than two weeks after lab receipt, you may reach out to support through the official chat hours.
Helpful links for quick reference: check the 4–6 week timeline and your live sample status page. Both are official resources.
Why Review Can Stall
Several factors can slow this stage:
1. Borderline Call Rate
Low DNA concentration, bubbles, or food residue can lower the share of markers that read cleanly. The lab then runs more checks, which adds days.
2. Batch Re-runs
When a chip batch shows noise, labs repeat a plate or subset. Kits in that batch wait for a fresh pass.
3. Volume Spikes
Holiday sales and major promotions send a wave of tubes. Intake, genotyping, and quality teams get busier, and review queues grow.
4. Account Mismatches
If the genetic sex flag doesn’t match the account selection, the team pauses to verify. That pause lives inside the review label.
5. Compute Queue
Sometimes a status stays on “review” while the back-end prepares reports. The next visible jump is “computation,” then “results ready.”
Ways To Keep Your Kit Moving
Small choices add speed. These tips help reduce rework:
- Follow the tube rules. Spit to the fill line, seal tight, and close the cap firmly so the stabilizer mixes completely.
- Skip food and drink for 30 minutes. Coffee, lip balm, and mouthwash can mess with extraction.
- Ship fast. Use the provided mailer right away. If you can, drop it at a staffed counter to cut a day of transit scanning.
- Register before mailing. Activation ties the barcode to your login so status posts correctly.
- Watch your inbox. If support emails about a re-collection, reply and act quickly.
Fair Expectations: What Most People See
Plenty of customers report smooth runs that jump from genotyping to review and then to computation within a week. Others share timelines where the account sits on review for 10–14 days and then finishes. Both patterns fit inside the 4–6 week lab window. A small fraction hit outliers due to DNA quality or repeat attempts; those can extend beyond the typical range.
When To Contact Support
If your account shows “received at lab” for more than two weeks with no change, reach out. If you’ve been on review for more than 14–18 days, send the order number and barcode and ask for a quick check. The care team can see batch notes and whether a repeat is scheduled. Use chat during listed hours and attach screenshots of your status page.
What The Review Step Checks
Quality control looks at several items before reports move on:
High Call Rate
The data set needs a strong fraction of markers read. The company targets 98% or better on its platform; below that, you may see reprocessing.
Internal Consistency
Test controls on each plate check that genotyping signals look stable. If a plate underperforms, staff repeat that context.
Sex Concordance
The lab compares chromosome data with the account setting. Any mismatch goes to a manual check for clarity.
Contamination Checks
Mixed signals or stray DNA reads prompt a redo. Swapping tubes is rare, and barcoding plus intake scans prevent cross-overs in routine flow.
Estimated Ranges For The Review Stage
Timelines vary by batch, volume, and sample quality. The ranges below reflect a mix of company guidance and aggregated user timelines. They are not guarantees, but they map to patterns you can expect.
| Scenario | What To Expect | Next Step |
|---|---|---|
| Clean Run | 1–3 days in review; quick hop to computation. | Results within the 4–6 week lab window. |
| Extra QC Pass | 5–10 days in review while checks complete. | Compute starts once thresholds are met. |
| Re-collection Needed | Status pauses; new tube required. | Timeline resets when the lab receives the fresh sample. |
Sample Timeline Scenarios
These plain timelines mirror common patterns seen in public threads and align with the company’s stated ranges. They are not promises for any given kit, just reference points to set expectations.
Scenario A: Smooth Ride
Day 0: Lab receives your kit. Day 2: Prepped. Day 5: Genotyping. Day 9: Review. Day 11: Computation. Day 13: Results ready. Total: about two weeks after lab receipt, which fits inside the posted window during light volume.
Scenario B: Extra Checks
Day 0: Lab receives your kit. Day 4: Genotyping. Day 8: Review starts. Day 17: Still in review due to a call rate recheck. Day 20: Computation. Day 24: Results ready. Total: three to four weeks after lab receipt, common around holidays or when QC repeats a pass.
What A Re-collection Looks Like
In rare cases, the lab asks for a fresh tube. You’ll see an email with a link to request a replacement and a notice in your account feed. Shipping a new tube restarts the clock from the day the second sample reaches the lab. It’s best to avoid that reset by filling to the line, sealing the cap firmly, and mailing the kit right after activation.
About Health And Ancestry Reports
Once review and compute wrap, ancestry pages unlock first, then health features appear based on your region and kit type. The company’s primer on genetics is a handy read if you want to see how the chip and markers translate into reports. Start with the science overview and the “getting started” guide.
Quick links: open the getting started guide and the genetic science overview for context on the reports you’ll see.
Method Notes And Sources
This guide pulls the company’s stated 4–6 week lab window, the names of visible status steps, and the definition of quality review. It also reflects common customer timelines shared in public threads. That mix gives a practical picture without over-promising exact dates for any one kit.
Takeaways
The review step is a brief quality gate inside a multi-week process. Many kits clear it in a handful of days. Some need extra checks and sit a bit longer. If yours stalls past two weeks on that label, contact care with your details. With a well-filled tube and quick shipping, most people see results inside the stated lab window.