TellMeGen Review : How reliable are the DNA tests offered by this genealogy lab?

The Spanish genealogy laboratory TellMeGen offers DNA tests that provide information about health and ancestry. But how good are its DNA analyses? Are they reliable and relevant? Here is our opinion after testing them.

Key points to remember about TellMeGen

Information
🎁Promotional code	“TELLSTORY”
🌐 Wbesite	➤ Visit
🗓️ Year of creation	2014
🧬Types of DNA tests offered	Autosomal Health Personal traits Full genome sequencing 30x
🧪 Sample type	Inside cheek swab
📈 Results reports	Ethnic origins Personal traits Genetic susceptibility to health issues Pharmacological compatibility Wellness information
Database	2 million 3 billion base pairs sequenced (WGS 30x)
⏳ DNA sample processing time	4 to 6 weeks
🔬 Reliability and accuracy	99%
💵 Cost	Starter DNA Kit: €99 Advanced DNA Kit: €159 Ultra genetic analysis (WGS 30 X): €309
📞 Customer support	info@tellmegen.com

Our review of TellMeGen in video format

DNA tests offered by TellMeGen

TellmeGen Starter DNA Kit

The Starter Kit is designed for those who want to take their first steps in exploring their genetic heritage. It provides access to more than 130 reports covering three main areas:

• Ancestral origins: maternal and paternal lineage among 93 ethnic groups dating back up to 200,000 years, and an estimate of the proportion of Neanderthal DNA
• Personal genetic traits: over 80 articles on eye or hair color, blood type, or sex hormones
• Well-being: over 50 articles related to nutrition, metabolism, or muscle performance

This package also includes the DNA Connect service and free updates for life.

Kit ADN TellmeGen Advanced

The Advanced Kit expands on the analyses provided by the Starter Kit with more than 420 reports, adding three health modules of significant clinical interest. You will have access to an analysis of genetic vulnerabilities to complex diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and certain cancers (pancreatic, thyroid, prostate, colorectal).

It also assesses the risks associated with more than 100 monogenic hereditary diseases (beta thalassemia, cystic fibrosis, etc.). Raw genetic data (20 MB, chip array format) can be downloaded, and updates are free for life.

TellMeGen Ultra DNA Kit

With this DNA kit, TellMeGen performs whole genome sequencing (WGS 30x). This means that nearly 3 billion base pairs of your genome are analyzed in depth, far beyond the capabilities of a traditional microarray test.

This comprehensive coverage of the genome allows us to detect not only common variants, but also rare variants, CNVs (copy number variations), large insertions/deletions, and tandem repeats. The Ultra kit delivers over 600 reports, including over 200 monogenic hereditary diseases and expanded drug compatibility.

The Ultra Kit includes the first year of TellMeGen+ subscription, which provides access to DNA result updates. Raw data is available and downloadable in FASTQ and VCF formats, representing 90 GB of genetic data.

How does the TellMeGen DNA test work?

Ordering the DNA kit

Visit the laboratory’s official website and choose the DNA kit you want (Starter, Advanced, or Ultra). Then fill out the order form with your full name and address. Complete your purchase using the usual payment methods (credit card, PayPal, Shop Pay, Google Pay, or Klarna).

The kit, which is shipped within 2 to 4 business days, includes all the necessary sampling equipment as well as instructions for registering your kit online and generating your return label.

Sample collection

As soon as you receive the package, start by creating your user account. To do this, scan the QR code in the instruction booklet or visit the official website. Register your kit by entering the identification code on the swab or in the instruction booklet.

To collect the DNA sample, make sure you do not eat, drink, or smoke for 30 minutes before collection. Fill the tube with saliva up to the black line, then close it with the cap. You can use the swabs to make collection easier.

Sending to the laboratory and analyzing samples

Once the DNA kit has been registered and the sample collected, print the label received by email and stick it on the plastic bag in your kit. Place the tube containing the sample in the box and take it to the post office indicated in the email. The return shipping of the kit is entirely covered by TellMeGen and the return shipping costs are included in the purchase price.

Availability of DNA analysis results

Results are available on average 4 to 6 weeks after the sample is received by the laboratory. You will receive an email notification as soon as your data is ready. You can access it from your secure personal account, which can be viewed on a computer, tablet, or smartphone.

The analysis reports are available in PDF format, which is easy to download, print, or copy to a USB drive. Before opening your results, you can decide which information you would prefer not to see.

TellMeGen DNA test results and features

Identification of origins with the possibility of finding genetic matches

TellMeGen allows you to trace your genetic history and the migratory movements of your ancestors over 200,000 years. The report indicates your percentage membership of 93 ethnic groups spread across 7 major geographical areas:

• Europe (36)
• Africa (9)
• Western Asia (14)
• South and Central Asia (9)
• East Asia (17)
• Oceania (3)
• America (5)

You will discover your maternal haplogroup (mitochondrial lineage), your paternal haplogroup (Y-chromosome lineage), and the portion of your DNA that you share with Neanderthals.

Beyond ancestry, you can access the Quick Connect feature, which allows you to identify and contact genetic matches, in other words, potential distant cousins.

Screening for hereditary diseases and genetic vulnerability

After analyzing your samples, the laboratory will provide you with a comprehensive health report on your genetic vulnerability to complex diseases and susceptibility to hereditary monogenic diseases such as familial breast cancer, transthyretin amyloidosis, and alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency.

On the dashboard, simply click on the items to obtain detailed information on the level of risk.

Report on well-being and pharmacogenetic compatibility

TellMeGen translates your genetics into actionable information for prevention in your daily life. For example, you can discover how your genome influences nutrient metabolism, your tolerance to caffeine or alcohol, or your muscular endurance.

At the same time, the pharmacogenetics report analyzes how your body metabolizes more than 95 drugs, such as codeine or amitriptyline. Certain treatments are not very effective in some people due to specific genetic variants, and TellMeGen tells you which ones may affect you.

Analysis of genetic traits related to personality

This report shows your compatibility with over 80 genetic traits, such as :

• Susceptibility to HIV infection
• Birth weight
• Probability of having red hair
• Probability of snoring
• Heat production in response to cold
• Prominence of the nose
• Acne vulgaris
• Mental agility
• Male pattern baldness

Personalized genetic counseling

Available from $29, the genetic counseling service informs, educates, and supports individuals and families who have a genetic disorder or are at risk of developing one. During online sessions, the doctor explains the results, outlines the risks for future generations, and suggests different treatments or preventive measures. Consultations are sent by email in the language of your choice.

Focus on TellMeGen’s Raw Data service

Have you already taken a DNA test with 23andMe, AncestryDNA, or MyHeritage? TellMeGen allows you to use your existing raw genetic data without having to order a new DNA kit.

You must import the files encoded on the (+) strand of the GRCh37 reference genome, with a rate appeal higher than 0,95 and in standard chip array format. Three levels of raw data are available:

Features	Raw Data Free	Raw Data Starter	Raw Data Advanced
Access to raw data	Free	Included	Included
Genetic Vulnerability to Health Issues	5 reports	5 reports	More than 105 reports
Pharmacological compatibility	5 reports	5 reports	More than 95 reports
Hereditary conditions	5 reports	5 reports	More than 100 reports
Personal traits	5 reports	More than 80 reports	More than 80 reports
Wellness articles	5 reports	Over 40 reports	Over 40 reports
Origins	Origins Maternal lineage Paternal lineage Neanderthal DNA	Origins Maternal lineage Paternal lineage Neanderthal DNA	Origins Maternal lineage Paternal lineage Neanderthal DNA
Free updates	✅	✅	✅
DNA Connect	✅	✅	✅

Test reliability and accuracy

The laboratory applies rigorous scientific standards to ensure the reliability of its analyses. For the Starter and Advanced packages, TellMeGen uses Illumina microarray chips to analyze 750,000 genetic markers and 10,000 custom variants selected for their clinical relevance.

This system has a reproducibility rate of 99%, and internal quality controls involving the repetition of genetic markers are integrated into the analytical process. Genomic imputation then increases the number of usable variants to 13 million. For the Ultra package, whole genome sequencing with 30x coverage analyzes almost all of the 3 billion base pairs in your DNA.

This means it detects SNP polymorphisms as well as rare variants, CNVs, and large chromosomal rearrangements. All analyses are performed in a laboratory certified to ISO 17025 and ISO 15189, certifications recognized in the biomedical sector.

Data security and confidentiality at TellMeGen

As soon as the kit is registered, your personal information is automatically encrypted. All connections to the platform are made via the SSL cryptographic protocol, and stored data benefits from advanced encryption protocols.

TellMeGen also complies with the GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation). Your genetic data is not rented or sold to third parties (insurers, pharmaceutical laboratories, etc.). In addition, you can request its deletion at any time.

TellMeGen DNA test prices

Product	Price
DNA Starter Kit	€99
Advanced DNA Kit	€159
Ultra DNA Kit (WGS 30x)	€309
Raw Data Free	Free
Raw Data Starter	€9.99
Raw Data Advanced Grade	$9.99
Raw Data Advanced	$19.99

Our opinion on TellMeGen

One of the most comprehensive health reports on the European DNA market with a genetic counseling service

TellMeGen offers more than 105 reports on complex diseases with more than 95 pharmacogenetic analyses and more than 100 hereditary conditions studied. The depth of the reports is comparable to that of Living DNA or 24Genetics, for more or less similar prices. In addition, the ability to consult specialized doctors and geneticists directly via the platform transforms a simple report into a real tool for medical dialogue.

Advanced DNA Test: comprehensive DNA analysis with a single DNA kit

Priced at €159, TellMeGen’s Advanced DNA test is, in our opinion, a very comprehensive package. For this price, you don’t just get a simple report on your origins, but a comprehensive 360° analysis. You get an accurate estimate of your ethnic origins, identification of your maternal (mitochondrial DNA) and paternal (Y-DNA) haplogroups, and an estimate of your Neanderthal DNA percentage.

The health section is just as comprehensive, covering hereditary diseases, complex genetic vulnerabilities, and pharmacogenetic data. Added to this is the analysis of numerous personal traits: metabolism, physical characteristics, and biological predispositions. In our opinion, this is the best offer on the European DNA market and simply the ideal option for understanding your genetic heritage in detail.

An approach based more on health than on ancestry analysis

Unlike AncestryDNA or MyHeritage, whose genetic reference databases are built more around documented genealogy, TellMeGen has structured its offering around preventive health. Analysis of origins (maternal and paternal lineages, haplogroup, Neanderthal DNA) is included, but it remains secondary to the health modules.

If your main goal is to find distant cousins or build a detailed family tree, go for MyHeritage or Ancestry DNA. On the other hand, if you are looking to use your genetic data for preventive health purposes, TellMeGen is one of the most robust and accurate options available in Europe.

Evolving DNA results with free lifetime updates

With the constant advances in genetic research, receiving results that are fixed in time limits the long-term value of a DNA test. In this regard, TellMeGen stands out with its evolving reports. Specifically, when new diseases or genetic traits are added to the catalog, your already sequenced DNA is automatically reinterpreted, without having to take a new DNA sample.

The variants detected in your genome do not change. However, their classification may evolve. A variant considered benign today may be reclassified as requiring monitoring tomorrow, depending on scientific advances.

In addition, geographical accuracy and ethnic distribution over time are refined as the genealogical database improves. Free and ongoing updates to DNA results are a real plus.

Comparison with other DNA tests

TellMeGen vs 23andMe

23andMe is one of the world’s pioneers in consumer DNA testing, with a user base of over 15 million people. In terms of ancestry and genetic matches, its large genealogical database is a significant advantage for finding distant relatives.

In terms of medical information, the depth of TellMeGen’s health reports exceeds that of 23andMe. In addition, recent controversies surrounding data security may have undermined the confidence of some users.

For European users concerned about preventive health and data privacy (GDPR), TellMeGen offers a more secure environment and more comprehensive DNA reports.

TellMeGen vs AncestryDNA

AncestryDNA has a database of 27 million DNA samples and over 60 billion historical records. It is a reference for anyone looking to build a detailed family tree, cross-reference DNA data with civil records, or find family branches scattered across several continents.

But this strength in documented genealogy comes at the expense of a weakness on the health side. AncestryDNA’s medical reports are virtually non-existent. TellMeGen is therefore a much more relevant choice for anyone who expects their DNA test to provide concrete information about their health.

The two platforms can also complement each other. AncestryDNA for genealogy, TellMeGen for medical analysis by importing your raw data from Ancestry.

TellMeGen vs Family Tree DNA

Family Tree DNA (FTDNA) is one of the most reliable players for analyzing paternal and maternal lineages through in-depth Y-DNA and mitochondrial DNA testing, as well as for specialized genealogy communities.

FTDNA is tailored for the passionate genealogist who wants to trace their lineage back hundreds or thousands of years. TellMeGen is designed for those who want to understand their DNA from a medical and health perspective.