Multiple kit protocol

[mjclayton31]

Two questions here:

1. I already have two FTDNA kit numbers. One that I uploaded raw data from a competing site and one where I did my Y-111 test. Why do I need to log on separately for each kit? Am I doing something wrong? And why the sane for FTDNA forums? Seems like this should be easier "one-stop" website access.

2. I recently bought another basic DNA kit. I bought it for my uncle, who's 85. He wants me to manage his kit. He signed the green paper that is to be sent with the kit in the mail. Does he need to create an account at FDNA, and if so at what point? Now? Could help then somehow designate me manager, or at least give me access? Or can I enter his kit number somewhere in my account??

I haven't mailed his kit yet, so I want to get this right from the get-go. Since I bought the kit, will the signed (green) paper be sufficient to distinguish my Uncle from me? I guess I'm thinking that the "default" scenario (situation) here is that the kit, by definition, is associated with me (as purchaser), so I just need to distinguish that he's the actual test-taker.

Thanks in advance.

[dna]

No trivial solutions since DNA is something very personal. Nothing gets more personal than one's own DNA!

1 (the forum part). You definitely do not need two or more accounts for the forum. You are speaking here for yourself, and you can talk about your family DNA at the same time. You will not be pretending here that you are your cousin, wife etc.

If you are publishing in the (world-readable) forum your own personal data, that might be carelessness. If you are publishing someone's personal data (name, birth data, birth place, address, phone number, etc.), that might even be illegal in some jurisdictions.


Mr. W

[dna]

Two questions here:
[----]

2. I recently bought another basic DNA kit. I bought it for my uncle, who's 85. He wants me to manage his kit. He signed the green paper that is to be sent with the kit in the mail. Does he need to create an account at FDNA, and if so at what point? Now? Could help then somehow designate me manager, or at least give me access? Or can I enter his kit number somewhere in my account??

I haven't mailed his kit yet, so I want to get this right from the get-go. Since I bought the kit, will the signed (green) paper be sufficient to distinguish my Uncle from me? I guess I'm thinking that the "default" scenario (situation) here is that the kit, by definition, is associated with me (as purchaser), so I just need to distinguish that he's the actual test-taker.

Thanks in advance.

New kit = new number.

When administering your account attached to your Y-DNA111 test you might have (or not) noticed, that the name on the account is entirely arbitrary and in no way it is related to the e-mail address or identity of the person who administers the account.

You should be good mailing your uncle's kit, as long as his name and signature match the name on the order. If someone's else name was used, you have to contact FTDNA before mailing.

When buying the kit whose e-mail address was used? Do you have access to that e-mail account? Do you know the password? (It can be reset.)

The new kit with your uncle DNA test results should have his identity (use initials, or just first name initial if there is a problem with showing his full name to his matches). However, you will have the kit number, e-mail and password. There is no need to involve your uncle in his kit beyond him signing the paperwork. Oh, you may want to get your uncle to name you in the "Beneficiary Information" field.


Mr. W

[The_Contemplator]

Each kit number equals one person. Each kit is a separate account. The reason you have two kit numbers is because you were not logged into your first kit when you ordered yourself the other test. If you were logged into say your autosomal transfer kit, then your Y-DNA test would have been included in the same kit (account). You can contact FTDNA about maybe merging accounts though I don't know what their policy is on this.

As for your uncle. This is something a lot of us do. Order a kit for a relative but they are either not interested or just prefer someone else to manage it. Keep the kit in his name, but use your email. As long as he grants you permission there is no problem. Based on FTDNA's policy, if the DNA donor (your uncle) would want to revoke you permission of using his kit, he would have to repay you back and then he can have complete control.

So remember if you intend on ordering a new test for your uncle other than what you already have. Make sure to log into that kit and then order the new test. And you can send in his kit back already. The moment you order a new kit, the account is made. You receive a kit number and password through the email you used for the new kit. Nothing else left to do but play around with the settings if you want. For example the settings may be by default to private and you can make them public (for group projects).

[mjclayton31]

Thanks for both of your responses. I must be somewhat dense...

To be clear, I just logged into the FTDNA web-site (NOT this forum) under the NEW Kit no. and had to reset my access password. In doing so, I used MY e-mail account and the NEW kit number- the one that references the kit number wherein my uncle actually utilized (scraped), signed his name on the green paper, etc. In other words, NOT the two other FTDAN kits Numbers that I already (exclusively) had. My uncle does NOT (yet) have an account in his own name (with his personal e-mail or password). I can help him create this, if necessary.

What's done is done, meaning I ordered/paid for the test kit. At the time, I don't recall seeing anywhere that I needed to designate someone else's name (read: his) as being a different "test-taker" than myself as to the ordered kit.

I want to make sure that when FTDNA processes this test that they don't think it's my saliva/DNA. I want them to understand it is his/my uncle's. Then, he wants me to mange his kit for him (manage any e-mail, etc). Plus, I'm the one doing the research, which he won't (fully) understand.

Do I need to call and speak to someone at FTDAN? Is there a specific number I would use? I understand the beneficiary designation thing - I imagine he would choose me, but let's get this "processing" thing straightened first.

Thanks again.

[prairielad]

Any kit/test order under an specific account, will use the original DNA submitted for that account.

If testing a new person, a new kit must be ordered in order for them to send out a new collection kit with a new kit number.

If ordered under wrong account, you need to contact them ASAP, otherwise they will not refund if testing has begun.

To straighten out orders you can phone them, number listed after click on Contact Us on the following link (Support section)

https://www.familytreedna.com/contact

[mjclayton31]

Any kit/test order under an specific account, will use the original DNA submitted for that account.

If testing a new person, a new kit must be ordered in order for them to send out a new collection kit with a new kit number.

If ordered under wrong account, you need to contact them ASAP, otherwise they will not refund if testing has begun.

To straighten out orders you can phone them, number listed after click on Contact Us on the following link (Support section)
https://www.familytreedna.com/contact

Thanks, prairielad. Exactly what I'm looking for here. I have not mailed the kit yet, so no worries about the FTDNA researchers starting that process. Hopefully, all I will need to do is tell my uncle he will need to open an FTNDA account in his name and then the FTDNA folks can "re-associate" this kit number to his account. Then I can drop the kit in the mail (he asked me to mail it when I left from my visit this past weekend, but I wanted to clear these "nagging" questions up first - glad I did that!).

I guess after all of that is done he can then share his account with me? I used the term "manage" his account previously simply because, in all likelihood, he will have minimal "active" involvement with this web-site, etc. As stated, he's 85 and doesn't go online much. Also, I'm pretty sure he won't have the amount of time to devote to research like this (which we all know can be quite extensive). He does appreciate and is interested in my ongoing research, tho', so that's more or less the impetus behind all of this.

[prairielad]

Thanks, prairielad. Exactly what I'm looking for here. I have not mailed the kit yet, so no worries about the FTDNA researchers starting that process. Hopefully, all I will need to do is tell my uncle he will need to open an FTNDA account in his name and then the FTDNA folks can "re-associate" this kit number to his account. Then I can drop the kit in the mail (he asked me to mail it when I left from my visit this past weekend, but I wanted to clear these "nagging" questions up first - glad I did that!).

I guess after all of that is done he can then share his account with me? I used the term "manage" his account previously simply because, in all likelihood, he will have minimal "active" involvement with this web-site, etc. As stated, he's 85 and doesn't go online much. Also, I'm pretty sure he won't have the amount of time to devote to research like this (which we all know can be quite extensive). He does appreciate and is interested in my ongoing research, tho', so that's more or less the impetus behind all of this.

When you ordered kit, you should have received a confirmation email to gave the kit number and password. This email would have went to the email account you entered when ordering.
If you did not receive, it may be in Junk Folder, Not all Junk email is downloaded to computer email programs, one may have to sign in via their web Account to check.

This info is what you would use to log in with.
Kit number should also be listed on sample kit.
You should not need to create a new account.
Logging into account, one can change the name of kit holder (sex of kit can only be changed by FTDNA)

[dna]

[----] I just logged into the FTDNA web-site (NOT this forum) under the NEW Kit no. and had to reset my access password. In doing so, I used MY e-mail account and the NEW kit number- the one that references the kit number wherein my uncle actually utilized (scraped), signed his name on the green paper, etc. In other words, NOT the two other FTDAN kits Numbers that I already (exclusively) had. My uncle does NOT (yet) have an account in his own name (with his personal e-mail or password). I can help him create this, if necessary. [----]

Given the above, on the account you just reset the password:

1. Leave the e-mail and password as they are, so you can manage everything.
2. Place personal information there matching your uncle.
3. Get in touch with FTDNA (by phone or using their contact form) and tell them that the kit was used by Your_Uncle_First_Name Your_Uncle_Last_Name. In my opinion it is impaortan, since you ordered the kit in your name, so they might or might not accpet the green form that bears a different name and was signed by somebody else.
4. Wait for the OK from FTDNA (on a phone it is instant, but some people do not get through on their first day of trying), and only then mail uncle's kit back.
5. Learn here what the best matching and privacy settings are in your uncle circumstances, and apply them to that account.
6. Wait, wait, wait..., for the results.
7. Enjoy!

Mr. W

[loobster]

My experience - if the name and/or sex on the Permission Slip did not match what was on the Kit, they changed the information on the Kit to match the Permission Slip.

Moreover - to change the name on a Kit -- no need to contact FTDNA Support - just log in to the Kit and change the Name to what you now wish it to be.

No idea why you should need to have reset the Password.

To change or add e-mails to the Account - again, log in and go to Contact Information. If you uncle has an e-mail, and you didn't provide it when you created the account, you can do so at any time.

Each Kit can have only one Account - so no, you cannot create a separate account for him. In order for him to see his results, he needs the Kit Number and Password; it makes no difference whether his e-mail is on the account or not as far as his ability to see account.
-- -- PS - reset Password info will only go to the Primary e-mail. Also, the e-mail that matches see is only the Primary e-mail, so that is the only one they will contact.
Again - that is something set in the Contact Information on the Kit.

[loobster]

Two questions here:

1. I already have two FTDNA kit numbers. One that I uploaded raw data from a competing site and one where I did my Y-111 test. Why do I need to log on separately for each kit? Am I doing something wrong? And why the sane for FTDNA forums? Seems like this should be easier "one-stop" website access.

I strongly suggest you contact FTDNA Support and ask them to merge the Kit with your Y-DNA results and the kit with your Transferred Family Finder Results.
Otherwise, it may mean deleting the FamilyFinder Kit and then using upgrade from the Y-DNA Kit to do a new transfer -- but do not even attempt that unless they say that is the way to go.
But I am pretty sure they can do it directly.

You want your YDNA results and your Family Finder results on the same Kit / Kit Number not only for the convenience of not having to sign in separately, but because then you can use Advanced Matching to see the folks you match on both tests.

The Forums are separate, and not restricted to folks with Kits - so yes, a separate user name and password from any kits you may manage (tho, I suppose you might use the same as for a Kit -never thought to try that)

[dna]

Either merge or order Family Finder, each approach has its own advantages...


Mr. W

P.S.
As far as I known, you cannot do both

[The_Contemplator]

There is no need to contact FTDNA about your uncle's kit situation. There is no need to wait before sending the sample back. The kit number IS the account. You can't create a new account for your uncle because you already have it.

I have been in this similar situation with some other tests I ordered for relatives for my own research. Originally I had ordered a kit not knowing who I would get to take it for me. So the order was made under my name. I had an uncle provide a sample and sign the form. FTDNA changed the name on the kit and made it based on what they saw on the consent form. This I had not known they did, though I was going to change it at some point to put his name rather than mine.

FTDNA does not put any thought on who's name is on the kit other than that. Even if you had 10 kits with different samples and all with your name. They don't care as they are just processing the DNA. They go strictly by the kit number. So you could change the name to anything at anytime and FTDNA would still process the test fine. But you are the one that needs to know which kit number goes with which person you got to test. As long as you know who provided the sample, that is all that matters. If you don't that you got a mess on your hands, which doesn't affect FTDNA, only you.

[mjclayton31]

Lots of good responses here, thanks. Divergent opinions are great, but they also make it a tad more difficult to know what I should do. Nevertheless, I will try and process all of this and "see what happens."

Thanks again. I truly appreciate everyone's opinion and time.

[dna]

Lots of good responses here, thanks. Divergent opinions are great, but they also make it a tad more difficult to know what I should do. Nevertheless, I will try and process all of this and "see what happens."

Thanks again. I truly appreciate everyone's opinion and time.

I am sorry, my fault. Please see below.

There is no need to contact FTDNA about your uncle's kit situation. There is no need to wait before sending the sample back. The kit number IS the account. You can't create a new account for your uncle because you already have it.

I have been in this similar situation with some other tests I ordered for relatives for my own research. Originally I had ordered a kit not knowing who I would get to take it for me. So the order was made under my name. I had an uncle provide a sample and sign the form. FTDNA changed the name on the kit and made it based on what they saw on the consent form. This I had not known they did, though I was going to change it at some point to put his name rather than mine.

FTDNA does not put any thought on who's name is on the kit other than that. Even if you had 10 kits with different samples and all with your name. They don't care as they are just processing the DNA. They go strictly by the kit number. So you could change the name to anything at anytime and FTDNA would still process the test fine. But you are the one that needs to know which kit number goes with which person you got to test. As long as you know who provided the sample, that is all that matters. If you don't that you got a mess on your hands, which doesn't affect FTDNA, only you.

Yes, the above describes how people manage kits.

However, there used to be an important exception. Sex change. That definitely required contacting FTDNA, but I have not performed a sex change for some time, so maybe today that can be accomplished by the green form too.

And when I was contacting FTDNA (by phone) that was for the sex change (and the name change too...).

It is true that some years ago I had also ordered kits just for the future, and then I had simply changed personal information in the kit (in myFTDNA), when the kits were finally allocated. However, I had forgotten about that since I am not doing things this way anymore. My family lives all around the world, and a business packet directly from a company in Houston is preferred to a private envelope with an unusual content. When I purchase (yes, unfortunately, most of the time - although not always - it is me who pays...) a new kit, it is very easy to purchase for somebody else, thus I enter her or his name and address and phone number, but my e-mail address.


Good luck - Mr. W

P.S.
My first tested uncle happily signed anything, but on two conditions: that I inform him about all the interesting results and that he does not need to learn computers or Internet at the age of 94...