What each lab processing stage means

Kit processing & lab status · 2 min read · Updated 2 September 2026
In brief

Five stages, each updating only when its work finishes. Sequencing is the longest at 10–15 days, and a stage sitting still for a week is normal.

Typical time at each stage
10-15
days
Sample received
5-10
days
DNA extraction
1-2
months
Sequencing
5-10
days
Analysis
Report ready

Your profile shows one of five stages. The stage updates when work finishes, so a profile can sit on one stage for days and still be perfectly on track.

Sample received

The tube arrived, the barcode was matched to your profile, and it passed the volume check. Typically 1–2 days.

DNA extraction

DNA is separated from the saliva and measured for yield and purity. Typically 3–5 days.

Sequencing

Your genome is read on the sequencer. This is the longest stage — 10–15 days — because samples run in batches and a run cannot be paused.

Analysis

Reads are aligned, variants are called, and findings are curated by our team. Typically 5–10 days, longer where a finding needs a second reviewer.

Report ready

Your report is published to your account and you get an email. Raw data files appear at the same time.

Nothing has gone wrong until a stage has been unchanged for more than 20 days. At that point open a ticket with the barcode and we’ll chase the lab directly.

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