Frequently Asked Questions

How can my DNA be used to determine where my ancestors were from?
How is ancestry estimated?
Where can I find discussions of these methods in scientific journals?
How is the sample taken?
What are these kinds of tests commonly used for?
Can the test be performed on someone who is unavailable?
Does Nimble Diagnostics accept international orders?
How is shipping arranged?
Tell me about Nimble Diagnostics.
What are the advantages of using Nimble Diagnostics?
What are the important things to look for in a testing company?
Does Nimble Diagnostics offer other genetic testing services?
How can I contact Nimble Diagnostics?

How can my DNA be used to determine where my ancestors were from?

Recent research on full-blooded indigenous populations from all over the world has led to the discovery of several genetic markers that are unique to specific populations, ethnicity and/or deep ancestral migration patterns. The DNA markers that have very specific modes of inheritance, and which are relatively unique to specific populations, are used to assess ancestral relatedness. Our Ancestral Origins DNA Tests examine three types of hereditary markers: Autosomal DNA (this line makes up the majority of who we are), Paternal DNA (the Y-chromosome DNA, passed from father to son), and Maternal DNA (the mtDNA, passed from mother to all her children). We analyse an individuals DNA (collected using our home sample collection kit) using various population genetics statistics to calculate the proportion of their DNA is derived from specific geographical or ethnic ancestral sources.

How is ancestry estimated?

Our DNA Ancestry Tests use a specially selected panel of Ancestry Informative Markers (AIMs) that have been characterized in a large number of well-defined population samples. These markers are selected on the bases of showing substantial differences in frequency between population groups and, as such, can tell us about the origins of a particular person whose ancestry is unknown. For example, the Duffy Null allele (FY*0) is very common (approaching fixation or an allele frequency of 100%) in all sub-Saharan African populations. Thus, a person with this allele is very likely to have some level of African ancestry. After the analysis of these AIMs, in a sample of a person's DNA, the likelihood (or probability) that a person is derived from any of the parental populations and any of the possible mixes of parental populations is calculated. The population (or combination of populations) where the likelihood is the highest is then taken to be the best estimate of the ancestral proportions of the person. Confidence intervals on these point estimates of ancestral proportions are also being calculated.

Where can I find discussions of these methods in scientific journals?

The following references in peer-reviewed scientific journals describe the basis of our DNA Ancestry Testing:

Parra, E., Marcini, A., Akey, J., Martinson, J., Batzer, M., Cooper, R., Forrester, T., Allison, D., Deka, R., Ferrell, R. and M. Shriver. 1998. Estimating African American Admixture Proportions by Use of Population Specific Alleles. Am. J. Hum. Genet. 63:1839-1851.
Pfaff, C., Parra, E., Bonilla, C., Hiester, K., McKeigue, P., Kamboh, M., Hutchinson, R., Ferrell, R., Boerwinkle, E., and M. Shriver.2001. Population Structure in Admixed Populations: Effect of Admixture Dynamics on the Pattern of Linkage Disequilibrium. Am. J. Hum. Genet. 68:198-207.
Parra, E., Kittles, R., Argyropoulos, G., Pfaff, C., Hiester, K., Bonilla, C., Sylvester, N., Parrish-Gause, C., Garvey, W., Jin, L., McKeigue, P., Kamboh, M., Ferrell, R., Pollitzer, W., and M. Shriver.2001. Ancestral Proportions and Admixture Dynamics in Geographically Defined African Americans Living in South Carolina. American Journal of Physical Anthropology 114:18-29.
Frudakis, T., V Kondragunta, M Thomas, Z Gaskin, S Ginjupalli, S Gunturi, V Ponnuswamy, S Natarajan, and P Nachimuthu. 2002. A Classifier for SNP-Based Racial Inference. In Review, Journal of Forensics Sciences.

How is the sample taken?

The sample is taken simply by gently rubbing a soft swab on the inside of the cheek. No blood or other sample collection is required so the testing is painless and non-invasive. All instructions are provided in our free test kits.

What are these kinds of tests commonly used for?

For those that would like to uncover their personal anthropological history.
To determine for those that are adopted, or have adopted parents, what ancestral heritage they have.
For those that want to expand and confirm their family's historical information.

Can the test be performed on someone who is unavailable?

If for any reason a swab cannot be collected for any of the individuals being tested, genetic material can often also be collected from other sources, including saliva (e.g. on chewed gum or cigarette butts), blood stains (e.g. on a razor), hair (e.g. from a hairbrush), or other forensic samples. This may be specified in our online order form.

Does Nimble Diagnostics accept international orders?

Yes! We accept orders from anywhere in the world, and the sample can be sent to one of several Nimble Diagnostics international locations. We also can accept payment in almost any currency if requested.

How is shipping arranged?

We will ship a test kit out to you anywhere in the world free of charge within 24 hours of receiving an order. Once the samples have been collected, the kit should be mailed back to us. If there are any other special requests regarding shipping, please contact us and we will do our very best to accommodate them.

Tell me about Nimble Diagnostics.

Information about our company can be found here.

What are the advantages of using Nimble Diagnostics?

Highest standards - Unlike many other DNA testing companies, our laboratory is fully accredited and certified by the AABB, ISO 17025, and NATA, ensuring your test is performed to the highest international standards.
Highest quality - All of our senior analytical staff hold PhD's, so you can be sure that our tests are performed and interpreted by experts.
Painless testing - Samples are taken simply by gently rubbing a soft swab on the inside of the cheek. No blood or other sample collection is required so the testing is painless and non-invasive.
We accept international orders - We accept orders from anywhere in the world, and the sample can be sent to one of several Nimble Diagnostics international locations. We also can accept payment in several currencies.
No hidden charges - Other testing companies have hidden costs and will charge an additional fee to provide the results once testing has been completed. ALL of the costs to collect the sample, process the result, and report the result back to the requestor are included in the prices quotes by us, guaranteed.
Privacy guaranteed - Your privacy is of utmost importance to us. Any genetic or other information generated by us or provided by you or will NEVER be shared with a third party, such as an insurer, employer, or medical practitioner without your express written permission. Any and all personal data can be destroyed on request.

What are the important things to look for in a testing company?

There are several DNA testing companies offering what look like very cheap tests, however, NOT ALL DNA TESTS ARE OF EQUAL QUALITY. To avoid getting an incorrect result from your test which could have devastating consequences, always ensure the following:

The testing company is fully accredited, preferably by international accreditation bodies such as the AABB, ISO 17025, and NATA. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 17025 is the world standard in the certification of competence of testing and calibration of medical diagnostic laboratories. ISO 17025 certification ensures a high level of competence and compliance for the certified laboratory, ensuring that testing is undertaken by professionals. The AABB also certifies laboratories, and runs a accreditation programme specifically for high competence levels in DNA testing. Nimble Diagnostics' lab is accredited by both bodies.
The company uses a an adequate number of genetic markers - To cut costs, many companies will use only a small number of genetic markers, which severely limits their accuracy. They will quote a 99% accuracy which sounds high, but in fact means that 1 in every 100 of their tests results are INCORRECT - are you willing to risk that on such an important result? Nimble Diagnostics uses 18 genetic markers for testing, meaning the chance that these markers will assign paternity incorrectly is as low as one in several billion.
Many companies have hidden costs. They will lure you in with the promise of a cheap test, then charge you extra for shipping, for rapid results, or even to provide a copy of the results. Nimble Diagnostics guarantees that you will pay NO MORE than the advertised price - shipping of the test kit, results, and testing is all included.

Does Nimble Diagnostics offer other genetic testing services?

We also offer a full range of DNA paternity tests, family relationship DNA tests, and prenatal gender DNA tests. We are also currently negotiating to perform a number of other diagnostic tests with our usual high standards. These will be available from our website soon. If you have any questions regarding any genetic tests please contact us.

How can I contact Nimble Diagnostics?

Our contact information can be found here.