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African Ancestry DNA Testing Review


ConsumersAdvocate.org Rating: 3.9 / 5 (Very good)
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African Ancestry is a DNA testing company that focuses on finding the link between consumers and their African countries of ancestral origin, as well as ethnicities. Founded in 2003, it has reconnected more than 500,000 people with their past with over 85% accuracy. Athletes, actors, singers and influential figures for the African American community have taken the tests.
 
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How is African Ancestry rated?

Breakdown

3.5/5
Products & Services
4.5/5
Privacy & Security
3.5/5
Online Resources
4.0/5
Cost & Availability

Overall Rating: 3.9 / 5 (Very good)

African Ancestry is geared toward the African American community and endeavors to provide a cultural experience to their customers through their DNA tests. Comparing against a database of thousands of maternal and paternal lineages in 40 countries of the African continent, the firm looks back between 500 and 2,000 years into the consumers' DNA data to find their ancestral roots. After taking the cheek swab test and waiting between six and eight weeks, people can expect to receive an analysis of their African family with at least 85% of accuracy and reconnect with their ethnic past. The rise to fame of African Ancestry can certainly be linked to its famous users, which include Oprah Winfrey, Jesse Jackson, Erykah Badu and Chris Tucker, to mention a few. The price of the kits starts at $299, one of the highest in the industry. However, African Ancestry strives to be one of the most thorough in the business. African Ancestry also offers to expand the user experience with an online store, social media presence, newsletters, multimedia content, a magazine and a podcast. All in all, the firm values the connection its customers forge and makes an effort to keep it strong.

African Ancestry Testing Features

Testing Features - 3.5 / 5

The DNA kits include cheek swabs that are mailed to the company for analysis. Within six to eight weeks of receiving the samples, the customers will know if they have African ancestors and in what percentage. If the firm can't find a match for a customer's ancestry, it will notify the customer via mail and keep the DNA sequence for future testing. The user can also choose to receive a refund.
DNA Testing Features
Y-Chromosome
Mitochondrial
Time for Results
6 to 8 weeks
Collection Method
Cheek Swab
Company Does Own Testing
Yes

African Ancestry Results Analysis

Products & Services - 3.5 / 5

African Ancestry compares DNA results against thousands of lineages in 40 African countries and seeks to educate the customers about their ethnicities. For the company, discovering ancestral roots going back to at least 500 years is a point of pride.
Size of Database
0
Number of Geographical Regions Identified
40
Identification of Relatives
No
Number of Ethnicities Identified
Over 200

African Ancestry Other Services

Online Resources - 3.5 / 5

Customers can meet and chat through African Ancestry’s Facebook page. To become a member, the user must provide his or her name, e-mail and the Kit ID Number provided by African Ancestry. The community had over 800 members at the time of publication. The company also offers a mailing list, newsletter, a magazine called "Influence" and a podcast called African Ancestry Radio. It also has a YouTube channel.
DNA for Medical Purposes
No
Mobile App
No
Family Tree Creator
No

Member Features

  • Online Forum
  • Contact with Other Members
  • Social Network Integration

Migration Information

The company pinpoints the ancestral origin of the user within Africa, but it's not designed to look into migration patterns.

African Ancestry Pricing

Cost & Availability - 4 / 5

African Ancestry offers a MatriClan Test ($299, for men and women), the PatriClan Test Kit ($299, for men only) and the Family Celebration Package ($680). It offers to analyze a deceased person's DNA for an additional, undisclosed fee. It can also analyze other company's test results within certain conditions, for a $210 fee.
Basic Kit Price
$299
Discounts and Offers
In its store, African Ancestry offers t-shirts, journals, personalized certificates, gift cards, African Ancestry Experience Card—which explains how genetics work— and jewelry.

Cost of Add-ons

The Family Celebration Package offers two testing kits, six additional certificates, four African Ancestry t-shirts and two sets of African Ancestry Experience Cards.

African Ancestry Reputation

Reputation - 4.5 / 5

African Ancestry has no presence in Better Business Bureau (BBB) or TrustPilot.
Number of BBB Positive Reviews
0
Number of BBB Negative Reviews
0
Year Founded
2003
Trust Pilot Rating
0.0 out of 10
Date Collected
2018-03-16

African Ancestry Privacy

Privacy & Security - 4.5 / 5

The firm holds the DNA data for as long as it takes it to complete the analysis and then destroys it. African Ancestry assures its customers that it doesn't give information to third parties unless ordered to do so by law.
Time Company Holds Data
Undisclosed
Disclosure to Third Parties
No
Encryption/Web Security
African Ancestry implements standard security measures on its facilities and website.

Company Profile

Full Name
African Ancestry DNA Testing
Company Website
http://www.africanancestry.com/home/
Headquarters
5614 Connecticut Avenue NW, #297, Washington, DC, 20015

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Customer Comments & Reviews

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srivers88
7/28/2024
I am extremely disappointed with the service provided. This company is taking advantage of people who genuinely want to learn about their heritage. I spent $275 for my husband to receive a certificate stating his paternal genentic ancestry is with “ People living throughout Europe” but provided no detailed information about his paternal African heritage. So African Ancestry claims they offer all this great insight into his heritage…really?? it’s all playing on people’s emotions. Funny how my husband had another DNA test from a white company that broke out his Heritage and all the countries in Africa. This company is a scientific sham, preying on the curiosity and desires of... Read More

mpenzi25
5/15/2022
I’ve tried several times to get test results. The link that I’m sent goes nowhere. Please help me get my results. I sent my kit over two months ago

Top Rated
Our Partner
  • Tests for 650,000 genetic markers
  • Ancestry results go back 10 generations
  • Partnership with over 200 laboratories
  • Young, growing company
  • Invested in mapping out the world’s genetic roots
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