 |
Join the Hartley family surname project by clicking on the
link:
https://www.familytreedna.com/surname_join.aspx?code=T30863&special=True
filling in your details, selecting Y-DNA37 (or higher) from
the dropdown box for the type of test and clicking Continue.
Using this link gets you the Hartley project discount.
|
 |
After a week or so you should receive a plastic mailer containing
a small jiffy bag inside which is your DNA
sample taking kit.
The kit consists of three cheek swabs, three sample storage
vials, some instructions, a consent form and the pre-addressed
jiffy bag to mail it all back to Family Tree DNA. |
 |
This is what the little plastic vial of special storage solution
and the swab look like. The idea is that you use the three swabs
at three different times of the day, say once in the morning,
once before lunch (rather than after, or you'll be swabbing the
remains of your lunch) and once before retiring for bed. |
 |
When you're ready to take a sample, unscrew the lid from the
vial and set it down somewhere where you won't knock it over.
I forgot to do this so I had to do it one-handed with my swab
in the other hand. Notice that your vial has your own unique barcode
on it. |
 |
Peel open the end of the swab with the stick sticking out (as
opposed to the end that looks like a toothbrush) and remove it
from the sterile packaging. |
 |
Being careful not to touch it against anything (so don't drop
it), swab inside your cheek. |
 |
Rub the ribbed side of the cotton swab on the end
of the stick up and down against the inside of your cheek. You
don't need to rub really hard, but it does need to touch your
cheek. Try to use the inside of the other cheek when you later
do another swab. |
 |
The instructions say to do this for two full minutes. This is
actually a really long time; my arm got pretty tired; the point
is that you need to do a thorough swabbing. |
 |
If, like me you forgot to open the vial, open it now with your
other hand. Don't put the swab down or it might
get contaminated. |
 |
Put the swabbed end into the vial. The liquid in the vial is
designed to protect your precious DNA from drying out in a sterile
environment where it won't get too damaged by bacterial or mould
growth whilst in the post back to Family Tree DNA. |
 |
Then, by pushing on the part sticking out of the
end of the swab, gently slide the swab off the end of the stick
so it falls into the vial. This is tricky to do |
 |
Screw the lid back on to the top of the vial. Repeat this two
more times a good few hours apart until you have all three vials
with samples. Taking three samples means that they can check the
results if they get spurious answers, plus there's one extra in
case of accidental contamination or data loss. |
 |
Sign and date the consent form and pop it and
the three vials into the pre-addressed jiffy bag. Seal it down
and take it to your post office.
Postage for me was £1.58 to get it to Texas. |
 |
I filled in a customs declaration saying it was a DNA sample
weighing 20g worth nothing. Then I handed it to the post office
clerk who put it into the mail.
Then I waited, and waited and waited. It took weeks for my
sample to get to FTDNA but they emailed me when it arrived and
they processed it bit by bit, keeping me informed of how it
was all going.
Now I have my results. |