Female listed as male

[Tenn4ever]

I administer a kit for a first cousin who is a female. Her profile picture has the male head instead of a female head. I've never paid much attention to this. However, today I ordered an mtDNA test for her and at that time I was given the opportunity to order one of the Y kits also. I went through the order process until it was time to place "order" but then took the Y kit off.

What could be going on with this?

[KATM]

It seems that somehow FTDNA figured her kit was for a male. Perhaps when she sent the kit back in, she checked the wrong box, or it was a clerical error when it was checked in. You can contact FTDNA Customer Support, or maybe Darren in the forums here, and ask to have it changed to female.

[MMaddi]

Is it possible that the DNA sample sent back to FTDNA was not hers, but DNA from a male relative who used the kit?

[KATM]

I wonder how one could determine that, MMaddi? If the kit has been uploaded to GedMatch, would it show if it had two X chromosomes?

[MMaddi]

I wonder how one could determine that, MMaddi? If the kit has been uploaded to GedMatch, would it show if it had two X chromosomes?

That's along the lines I was thinking. Maybe FTDNA takes a look at a basic test to determine the gender of the customer, so they don't offer a woman the option to order a yDNA test.

It's probably more likely that the person who sent back the test kit mistakenly checked off the wrong gender. But what I'm suggesting may be what happened.

[Tenn4ever]

Is it possible that the DNA sample sent back to FTDNA was not hers, but DNA from a male relative who used the kit?

I thought about that but I don't know who else it could have been. She tested as a first cousin with over 800cm's. I also had her daughter tested and she tested as my first cousin's daughter and my first cousin once removed. So, everything there seems to fit. The only male sibling my cousin has and who would also be my first cousin lives over 1000 miles from her. When I had the test sent to her she mailed it back in right away so she didn't have time to mail it to her brother.

[keigh]

It sounds as if when you tried to order the Y-DNA test that the sample was determined to be unsuited for a Y test, but that a mtDNA test could be run.

The mistake in the icon may be on the part of the female who tested and she has mistakenly chosen the male icon. FTDNA went asked to test her DNA as if it was a male's sample, simply by not allowing you to order the Y test, is letting you know that the DNA they have on hand for this person is female.

[Tenn4ever]

It sounds as if when you tried to order the Y-DNA test that the sample was determined to be unsuited for a Y test, but that a mtDNA test could be run.

The mistake in the icon may be on the part of the female who tested and she has mistakenly chosen the male icon. FTDNA went asked to test her DNA as if it was a male's sample, simply by not allowing you to order the Y test, is letting you know that the DNA they have on hand for this person is female.

Could be. However, the Y test was offered and allowed me to put in the cart and go through the order process.. I cancelled the order myself.

I checked my own kit (female) and the Y test isn't offered and I am not allowed to order one and place it in my cart.

If it is as you say that she checked that she was 'male' then that seems to be a problem with the system. I wouldn't want to pay for a Y kit and then have to go through the process of trying to get a refund.

I've sent in a ticket to try to get this resolved. There is no place on her profile to change the designation from male to female.

[keigh]

Sorry, I misunderstood the problem. I thought that FTDNA cancelled the Y test even though you had placed it on your order.

[Lucky]

FTDNA can change the sex of a tester easily and will do so on request. This happens in our project group all the time and we admins tend to request the change - the reason it happens with us is that people sometimes people buy kits to take advantage of sales but haven't yet decided who the kits are for. At a later date when they decide then the change of sex is required.

[Tenn4ever]

FTDNA can change the sex of a tester easily and will do so on request. This happens in our project group all the time and we admins tend to request the change - the reason it happens with us is that people sometimes people buy kits to take advantage of sales but haven't yet decided who the kits are for. At a later date when they decide then the change of sex is required.

Customer service changed the profile picture. It is possible what you said about the kit being purchased originally as a male. I've purchased several kits so I could have made the mistake.