The agreement discloses that laboratory partners that process AncestryDNA samples are independently required under CLIA regulations to retain DNA Data and test results for at least seven years, and that this retention continues even if the user requests deletion from Ancestry.
This analysis describes what Ancestry's agreement states, permits, or reserves. It does not constitute a legal determination about enforceability. Regulatory applicability and practical outcomes may vary by jurisdiction, enforcement context, and individual circumstances. Read our methodology
This provision establishes that a user's deletion request directed to Ancestry does not terminate the retention of DNA Data at the laboratory partner level, as CLIA and CAP regulatory obligations require laboratory partners to maintain records independently of Ancestry's user-facing deletion mechanisms.
The updated Privacy Statement no longer displays a dedicated 'Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information' link in the footer, which was previously accessible to California residents under CCPA requirements. This link allowed users to exercise data-sharing opt-out rights. The footer now lists 'Consumer Health Privacy' as a separate item but does not explicitly direct users to their CCPA controls. California residents may need to locate their opt-out rights through alternative navigation paths on the Ancestry site.
View change record →The updated privacy policy removes the 'Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information' link from the footer navigation. This link previously provided direct access to Ancestry's data-sharing opt-out mechanism, which is a required disclosure under California's CCPA. While the removal does not eliminate the opt-out right itself, it may make the opt-out control less easily discoverable from the privacy policy page. Affected users may need to locate the opt-out mechanism through alternate navigation or search methods.
View change record →The updated Privacy Statement clarifies what uses of Ancestry services are permitted and prohibited, establishes that photo face-grouping in your gallery requires your express consent, and introduces SMS messaging as a communication channel for future opt-in communications. The statement now covers Ancestry, AncestryDNA, and Related Brands under a unified framework while noting that other services operated by the company use separate privacy statements. The removal of 'uploaded DNA data' from the account creation section reflects a narrowing of that specific provision's scope, though genetic information processing remains described elsewhere in the policy. You can review the full updated statement to understand how your personal information will be processed and manage your communication preferences when SMS opt-ins become available.
View change record →Under this clause, users who request deletion of their DNA Data from Ancestry should be aware that laboratory partners retain DNA Data and test results for at least seven years under CLIA regulations, and this retention is outside Ancestry's direct control and cannot be resolved through Ancestry's standard deletion tools.
Cross-platform context
See how other platforms handle Laboratory Partner Independent Data Retention Post-Deletion and similar clauses.
Compare across platforms →"If you were a customer of AncestryHealth, our AncestryHealth laboratory partners are required to retain your DNA Data and test result for a period of at least seven years, or as required by state law and the Clinical Laboratory Improvements Act (CLIA) and the guidelines that apply to laboratories certified by the College of American Pathologists (CAP). Our laboratory partners may also retain information they receive from us to comply with laws or regulations requiring retention of certain data, such as the Clinical Laboratory Improvements Amendments regulations administered by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Excerpt from Ancestry's Privacy Statement
REGULATORY LANDSCAPE: This provision engages the Clinical Laboratory Improvements Amendments (CLIA, 42 U.S.C.
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This provision establishes that a user's deletion request directed to Ancestry does not terminate the retention of DNA Data at the laboratory partner level, as CLIA and CAP regulatory obligations require laboratory partners to maintain records independently of Ancestry's user-facing deletion mechanisms.
Under this clause, users who request deletion of their DNA Data from Ancestry should be aware that laboratory partners retain DNA Data and test results for at least seven years under CLIA regulations, and this retention is outside Ancestry's direct control and cannot be resolved through Ancestry's standard deletion tools.
No. ConductAtlas is an independent monitoring service. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Ancestry.