Interpreting the Test Results

In general, test results will be returned in terms of the number of matches that occurred out of the total number of markers tested. The ratio of matches to total tested (example, 23/24) gives a general idea of how many generation back in your genealogy ancestry before you find a common relative. This is termed the Most Recent Common Ancestor (MRCA).

The table below provides an outline of what the various ratios of matches mean.

Matched	Tested	Interpretation
18	18	A perfect match means the two men share a direct paternal line of ancestry, statically in fewer than 9 generations.
17	18	This means the two men share a direct paternal line of ancestry, statically in fewer than 21 generations.
16	18	A match of this resolution indicates that the two men share a direct paternal line of ancestry. If there is genealogical information that indicates that a relationship in fewer than 15-18 generations, you may want to consider including more individuals to identify your ancestral lineage.
< 16	18	If you have more than 2 mismatches you are probably not related in a reasonable number of generations.

26	26	A perfect match means the two men share a direct paternal line of ancestry, statically in fewer than 6 generations.
25	26	This means the two men share a direct paternal line of ancestry, statically in fewer than 12 generations.
24	26	A match of this resolution indicates that the two men share a direct paternal line of ancestry. If there is genealogical information that indicates that a relationship in fewer than 12-15 generations, you may want to consider including more individuals to identify your ancestral lineage.
23	26	A match of this resolution indicates that the two men are unlikely to share a direct paternal line of ancestry. If there is genealogical information that indicates that a relationship in fewer than 17 generations, you may want to consider including more individuals to identify your ancestral lineage.
< 23	26	If you have more than 3 mismatches you are probably not related in a reasonable number of generations.

43	43	A perfect match means the two men share a direct paternal line of ancestry, statically in fewer than 4 generations.
42	43	This means the two men share a direct paternal line of ancestry, statically in fewer than 8 generations.
41	43	This means the two men share a direct paternal line of ancestry, statically in fewer than 13 generations.
40	43	A match of this resolution indicates that the two men share a direct paternal line of ancestry. If there is genealogical information that indicates that a relationship in fewer than 12-15 generations, you may want to consider including more individuals to identify your ancestral lineage.
< 40	43	If you have more than 4 mismatches you are probably not related in a reasonable number of generations.