DNA Tests: Two Kinds
Understanding the Tests
There are two types of genetic tests used for finding biological relatives. Because only a fraction of China’s 1.4 billion citizens and the ~140,000 internationally adopted Chinese children have taken any kind of DNA test, your best chance for a random match depends on how many databases your DNA is entered. It can seem overwhelming to have so many options available, but don’t worry! We will break it down for you. First, let’s review both types of DNA tests:
Autosomal (SNP) test: has higher accuracy and can identify both close and distant relatives—parent/child, sibling, aunt/uncle, grandparent, 1st and 2nd cousins. Cousin relationships at the 3rd level and past tend to be less accurate. SNP tests utilize several hundred thousand DNA markers, which is why ethnicity estimates and different levels of relationships can be identified. While autosomal (SNP) tests have rapidly gained commercial popularity in the West (hello, 23andMe and AncestryDNA!), they have had much slower traction among consumers in China (the most popular Chinese SNP company only has about 1 million users).
Paternity (STR) test: most commonly used test in China, but can only accurately predict parent-child relationships. In contrast to SNP tests, STR tests analyze only a few core markers for genetic comparison. Law enforcement and different government departments, both in China and other countries (including the United States), have heavily relied on paternity (STR) testing in the past decades. Despite its limitations, STR tests continue to be more widely recognized and the preferred choice by the Chinese government and those seeking relatives domestically.
As you can probably tell from the descriptions, SNP and STR tests both have benefits and drawbacks. Now, let’s take a closer look at the DNA testing options available to our community. At minimum, we urge all adoptees to first take a 23andMe test and secondarily AncestryDNA. Then upload their results to GEDmatch and other databases. You can find out how to do this here.
Autosomal (SNP) Databases
23andMe:
By far, this testing company has the greatest amount of Chinese adoptees in their database. Most DNA matches between Chinese adoptees and other adopted siblings/close cousins have been made through this test. The only way to enter 23andMe’s database is to purchase a DNA kit. The base kit of “ancestry only” is all you need for viewing matches; the health component and subscription options are merely add-ons.
Note: See how to download your raw data file here.
AncestryDNA:
After 23andMe, AncestryDNA is the second most used commercial DNA test by Chinese adoptees. There have also been sibling and close cousin matches through this test. Like 23andMe’s model, you do have to purchase a DNA kit in order to enter AncestryDNA’s database. We recommend using this test as a supplement to your 23andMe.
MyHeritage:
This testing company is less popular among Chinese adoptees, however they do allow you to upload your raw data file for free from other autosomal (SNP) tests you did. So if you have not already purchased a MyHeritage kit, upload your DNA for free from another company (like 23andMe or AncestryDNA).
Note: Creating an account and uploading your raw data file(s) is completely free. When registering for a MyHeritage account, if you are asked to input payment information for a subscription, there is a way around this. Simply delete everything from the URL after the .com/ leaving behind www.myheritage.com/ and hit ENTER or RETURN on your keyboard. This should take you to the normal account homepage and prompt you to type and confirm your new password. Now you can proceed as usual to finalizing account details and uploading your file!
FamilyTreeDNA:
This testing company is less popular among Chinese adoptees, however they do allow you to upload your raw data file for free from other autosomal (SNP) tests you did. So if you have not already purchased a FamilyTreeDNA kit, upload your DNA for free from another company (like 23andMe or AncestryDNA).
GEDmatch:
This Western platform is unique from the others on this list in that it does not sell DNA kits of their own. Instead, GEDmatch is a database that accepts raw data uploads from any autosomal (SNP) company listed here and compares uploaded files to one another. Example scenario: a kit with raw data from AncestryDNA could be matched to a kit with data from MyHeritage. The first five uploads per GEDmatch account are free and all adoptees are encouraged to submit their data here, as there are hundreds of birth families waiting to be matched on this platform and Nanchang Project actively adds new birth families for matching.
Need help interpreting your results? View Nanchang Project’s GEDmatch Mini Guide here!
23mofang:
This Chinese testing company is not related to American-based 23andMe, despite their similar names. Commercial DNA tests in China are still relatively new and 23mofang only ships kits within China. They do accept file uploads from other companies for a fee. To our knowledge, one international Chinese adoptee has found their birth family through 23mofang, but we expect to see more matches in the future as more Chinese purchase kits. With their database having nearly 1 million users (more than any other SNP company there), we strongly urge adoptees to import their 23andMe file.
View ICSA’s 23mofang guide here!
WeGene:
This Chinese testing company has a smaller database than 23mofang. They also sell their own DNA kits, but have the option for users to upload their raw data from other SNP companies for a fee. To our knowledge, at least one international Chinese adoptee has been able to confirm a birth family match through WeGene.
Paternity (STR) Databases
MyTaproot:
This nonprofit, American-based STR database permanently closed on May 31, 2022. If you did not request your data to be deleted, it was sealed to comply with legal requirements. MyTaproot transferred their birth parent data to Nanchang Project before its final closure, and we are undergoing the tedious process of offering an SNP test to all birth parents along with transferring their existing STR data to other STR-compatible databases. See our progress here.
Help For Family Reunion (HFFR):
This nonprofit database services mostly domestic Chinese adoptees and birth families in Fujian province, but also accepts STR uploads from international Chinese adoptees. Since its founding in 2015, HFFR has made 769 matches—the majority of which were for domestic adoptees and birth families, though also a handful for international adoptees.
If you have your lab report from the paternity test you took to do MyTaproot (or any other STR database), then you can email it to HFFR: beehffr@gmail.com. Along with an image or scan of your lab results, please include your name, sex, birthdate, country of residence, and contact info (preferred email address).
Police Databases in China:
China allows citizens and adoptees to visit and draw blood at their many police stations located throughout the country. It is free to register, and we encourage adoptees to enter the regional and national police databases in person. That way, you are adding your direct contact information in their system should a future match be found. Furthermore, there have been some concerns of incompatibility comparing lab reports generated by different testing labs. Earlier we noted that STR tests analyze only a small number of markers to identify parent-child relationships. To ensure your DNA is processed for the same markers used by the Chinese police stations, you will want to submit your blood directly to them to maximize compatibility. We know of several matches (including one in 2022, several in 2023) between adoptees who registered their DNA at a police station during a trip to China and it matching with a birth parent who independently gave their blood.
DNA testing is a must to confirm a biological relationship.
Utilize as many databases and platforms as possible to increase your chances of finding blood-related family members.
Should you be in contact with a potential birth relative in China, please contact us and we can arrange to test them for free, anywhere in the country, with results within 2 weeks.
