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Update to 23andMe Biobanking Consent

Important: For certain customers, participation in 23andMe Research is not available. For more information, please see this article.

  1. What changed between the previous biobanking consent and this new biobanking consent?

    This new biobank consent allows for the following:

    • 23andMe may continue to store your sample(s) beyond 10 years
    • These terms apply to any biological specimens (including saliva, blood, microbiome, tissue samples, etc.) you provide to 23andMe, not just saliva samples
  2. What will happen to my sample if I don’t make a decision?
    • If you are currently consented to 23andMe Research: Under our Research program (which is overseen by our external review board), we have secured a waiver that allows us to keep and continue to use biobanked samples for Research purposes unless you take action to revoke your consent to biobanking. This means that if you have not updated your Biobank Consent choice before your sample reaches the end of the initial 10-year retention period, we may continue to hold on to your saliva sample and other samples you may subsequently provide for non-clinical purposes indefinitely, and used for research purposes only. However, should you decide later on that you would like to revoke your consent choice to biobanking, we will discard your sample as requested, and it will no longer be used in research. 
    • If you are not consented to 23andMe Research: If you have not updated your Biobank Consent choice before your sample reaches the end of the initial 10-year retention period, we will discard your sample as described under the previous Biobank Consent terms.
  3. How can I check if I've opted in to Research?
  4. What can my biobanked sample(s) be used for if I opt in to the new biobanking consent?
    • As technology advances, 23andMe aims to continue to explore and improve our product offerings for customers. By storing saliva and other biological samples indefinitely, over time we may be able to:
      • Deliver new services, reports, or information to you
      • Improve product research and development efforts
      • Find new discoveries with the help of our Research program
      • Affirm the accuracy and precision of our reports 
      • Support regulatory submissions of new products
  5. Can I opt-out / change my decision later?
    • Yes, you always have the option to opt out of biobanking and can change your mind at any time. To update your consent choice, simply go to your Account Settings. Once you withdraw your biobanking consent, 23andMe will securely discard your stored Samples within the legally applicable timeframe. 
    • Please note that if you delete your 23andMe account, your stored Samples will be securely destroyed.
  6. Should I still make a decision for this new consent if my sample has already been discarded due to expiration?
    • Yes, please choose whether or not you’d like to opt into the new consent. Although your sample has already been discarded, your new decision will help ensure that any new samples you submit are stored or discarded in accordance with your choice. 
  7. If I provide blood samples for a clinical lab test that was part of a telehealth service coordinated through 23andMe, will any of those blood samples be stored under this consent? 
    • No. The blood samples used to generate any clinical lab values as part of your telehealth services are discarded by the lab shortly after the tests have been run. 
  8. If I provide blood samples for a 23andMe Research study, will any of those blood samples be stored under this consent? 
    • Yes. If you choose to participate in research in the future that involves blood collection, the blood samples may be stored under this consent. You may choose at any time to discard your samples following the method described in the study consent. 
  9. I previously provided a sample for a Research Study, how does this change impact my sample?
    • If you consented to the older version of our Biobank Consent as part of a Research study, then you will be asked to provide a new consent selection – and your samples will be either stored or discarded according to your new choice. However if you participated in a historical 23andMe Research study that used a different consent that included sample storage terms, your sample will remain stored under the terms of that consent and will be discarded according to the previously communicated timeline. You can review your consents and consent choices at any time in your Account Settings.