FAQS
Who is this product for?
totheletter DNA extracts DNA data from artefacts from your relative who is no longer living, for the purposes of genealogical research into your family tree. Artefacts include envelopes, postcards with stamp/s or aerogrammes, as well as hair, razors, spectacles and other items.
If you wish to test a living person, you should use a commercial genealogy testing site such as Ancestry or MyHeritage, or a laboratory in the case of paternity testing, etc.
We do not accept anonymous letters for DNA extraction.
We reserve the right to not accept an order if we have concerns about alignment with our Terms and Conditions.
what do i actually get?
If DNA is found, and genotyping is an option, the DNA data is contained in an autosomal DNA (atDNA) text file that can be uploaded to GEDmatch.
If you prefer Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS), or that is your only option, you will be provided via email with an autosomal DNA file suitable for upload to GEDmatch, and offered the option to download the full FASTQ file from our cloud-based server. Some imputation of the data may be undertaken by us in order to enable upload to GEDmatch, depending on the quality of the data returned through the WGS process. YDNA data may not be complete, depending on the DNA quality.
What can you test?
We undertake extraction from envelopes, postcards with stamp/s, aerogrammes, hair and brushes, Guthrie Cards, and razors - and will consider any artefact type. We are currently not accepting teeth.
We can support your liaison with medical facilities who hold a tissue or blood sample from your deceased loved one - as an excellent DNA source. We can also assist with obtaining a DNA sample from a just-deceased person - please call us on +61 484 939 525 for further information on this process.
Email us at info@totheletterDNA.com if you wish to check if an item is suitable.
What is the basic process?
You email us a photo of the front and back of the item and relevant background information.
If we confirm via email to you that we will accept the item for processing, you store the item in a cool, dry place and handle with surgical gloves until you wish to place an order.
Extraction - You prepare the item yourself at home and send us the agreed portion for extraction. You place an order for Extraction at this point on our Buy page
Pass 1 - Quality Analysis - We will advise you of the outcome of the extraction and if the DNA is suitable for Pass 1. You will place an order for Pass 1 at this point.
Pass 2 - If Pass 1 - Quality Analysis identifies that suitable DNA is present, we will advise you of your options, which will be to store the DNA in our lab, or either genotyping or Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS), depending on the suitability of the DNA found. If you wish to continue, you will place an order for Pass 2.
We process the DNA as agreed and provide you (via email) with an autosomal DNA file suitable for upload to GEDmatch, and offer the option to download the full FASTQ file from our cloud-based server (WGS cases only).
Where does the DNA come from on an Envelope?
DNA can be found under the stamp and where the envelope or aerogramme has been sealed. If an envelope, it should have been opened at the top or side of the envelope, rather than along the seal.
The more area available for sampling, the better results we get. An ideal sample will have an intact flap, or a number of stamps.
We ask you to send a photo of the front and back of the item to info@totheletterDNA.com in the first instance so we can assess the condition of the item and its suitability for further testing. We are happy to look at any number of your samples to identify the best item. All else being equal, we will recommend the cleanest and most recent item you have.
How old can the envelope be?
We have obtained useable* DNA from envelopes from the 1950s to today. The more recent, the better our chances, although we can have envelopes identical in age and condition and have success with one and not the other.
*an autosomal DNA file can be generated from the DNA and provide genuine matches in GEDmatch
What about other artefacts?
Hair with roots may provide autosomal DNA, whereas a lock of hair may only offer mitochondrial DNA at this point in time. A razor may have skin cells under the blades. In the case of these types of artefacts, we will discuss your individual case with you at the time of visual inspection.
How do i know who licked the envelope or stamp?
You can't know for sure who sealed the item. Of course, you will hope that it is the person who wrote the letter. But it may be that someone else sealed the item on their behalf.
In older times, people might use a third person to write a letter for them, particularly if they could not read or write. Or perhaps they asked their spouse or the post office worker to seal the item for them. A post office sponge, rather than saliva, may have been used. The fact that the item may not have been sealed by who you hope is a risk you need to be aware of.
If the DNA is good enough, we can tell you the mitochondrial and YDNA (for males) haplogroup after Pass 1. You can compare that to known relatives to indicate whether you have the DNA of the person you are targeting.
What are the chances of success?
We do not always extract sufficient DNA from every item we test. There is no way to determine from a visual inspection whether the item will yield any or sufficient DNA - we have success and failure on items that appear pretty much identical in age and condition. Some items simply will not have suitable DNA to enable progressing to the step of creating the file you need for genealogical purposes. You should be aware of this prior to placing an order with us.
Not everyone produces enough DNA in their saliva to enable testing, even in the optimum of conditions. DNA may degrade over time or can be affected by contamination. In any case, we are almost always dealing with very small amounts of DNA when extracting from an artefact from a deceased person. It cannot be compared to the ease of simply putting saliva in a tube and testing. The process is hands-on and labour-intensive.
Why is WGS so expensive?
The reason why some vendors are able to provide WGS at a much-reduced cost to our pricing is that due to the DNA we find usually being degraded and low yield, a hands-on approach is required in contrast to the standard “saliva in a tube” approach. Each sample is dealt with individually. We also perform bioinformatics analysis on the output from WGS in order to create an atDNA file. These factors contribute to the higher cost for WGS for artefacts.
Why do you charge in US dollars?
Our pricing is in US Dollars, due to our laboratory processing usually taking place in the USA and because of this, our costs are also in US Dollars.
How many items should i send if i have more than one?
Each artefact submitted requires its own extraction procedure, therefore a separate order for each sample is required.
Do you mix DNA from the flap and stamp?
We do not mix samples across two or more envelopes or stamps, or with an envelope flap and the stamp on the same envelope, to reduce the risk that one person may have licked the flap and another the stamp.
Do I need to have done a DNA test?
Not necessarily, although we imagine our service will appeal to people who are actively involved in genealogy, and therefore are likely to have already tested. You will need to have done so if you wish to compare the results of the DNA from our process to your own.
We are currently able to use the GEDMatch database to upload the autosomal DNA raw text files that we generate.
How much does it cost?
See our buy page for pricing information.
Do i get a refund if you don’t find any DNA?
There is an extraction cost which you will pay, regardless of success. The Pass 1 - Quality Analysis process is also non-refundable. If your sample does fail after WGS, totheletter DNA will refund the WGS charge to the customer except for our costs. While this means there is still a significant expense for the customer, it is some compensation for an unsuccessful outcome.
How old can the letter be?
The older the item, the higher the likelihood that the DNA has degraded, depending on its exposure to sunlight, moisture and other variables. DNA is, however, relatively stable in the right conditions. For genotyping, we have found that more recent samples have a higher chance of success.
We will test any envelope, postcard with stamp/s or aerogramme you wish, regardless of age.
How do i know you’ve received my item?
We send you a confirmation email when the order has been placed outside of the USA. If you are within the USA and wish to know if your item has arrived, please email us at info@totheletterDNA.com
How will you keep me informed?
We will contact you directly via email with information specific to your sample after each step in the process.
Do i need to send the actual letter?
No, please do not send the letter, just the envelope. For other items, we will let you know what you are required to send.
Do i get my item back?
Our preference is for you to prepare the sample at home according to our guidelines here. In some cases we can return the item to you but there will be an additional shipping / handling charge which we will notify you of when you place your order.
What happens to the DNA after it’s been processed?
We use all the sample in the genotyping or WGS process, leaving no remaining DNA.
After we have provided you with the DNA data files we do not keep your file on our servers - it is deleted permanently.
what about privacy?
The results of artefact testing and the DNA file are shared only with you. Your item progresses through the lab with a sample number only (not your identifying details).
If you upload the results to GEDmatch, you will select their appropriate Terms of Service, and your relative can now be matched to others in the database. You can use a pseudonym if you wish so your data is not associated with your name.
How accurate are the results?
If DNA is extracted and successfully genotyped / WGS, the results are very accurate. There is the potential, however, that the DNA belongs to the person who sealed the item, rather than the person who wrote the letter (see "How do I know who licked the stamp or envelope?" above).
The DNA is unlikely to be as high quality as a fresh DNA sample from a living person. Nevertheless if the DNA is suitable for processing we expect to be able to provide you with sufficient data to enable valid matching of relatives at GEDmatch.
Do the results show ethnicity?
We load your results to GEDmatch which enables you to use the tools they offer. Some of their “Tier 1” tools require a small payment (as at May 2023).
How long does it take?
As we process in batches, your sample may have to wait until sufficient samples are available to process. We can advise you of processing times during the visual inspection phase of your artefact.
are all envelopes suitable?
No. Self-stick envelopes are not suitable. Self-stick stamps are also not suitable. Postcards without stamps are also not suitable. Our visual inspection will provide feedback to you as to the suitability the item.
It is preferable that envelopes have been opened with a letter opener or similar at the top or side of the envelope, rather than along the seal.
Does it matter where i am located?
No. We will ask that you send your item via registered post or through a company with a tracking system wherever you are located. We cannot accept any responsibility for any item that is not sent in this manner.
I have more questions!
Click here to contact us.
Updated January 2024