Supported labs
helixXY is compatible with the five most widely used consumer DNA testing services. Together they cover the vast majority of genetic tests taken worldwide. If your test was performed by one of the labs below, you can upload your raw data and start generating personalized reports immediately.
Accepted file formats
helixXY accepts raw genetic data in the following formats:
.txt— A plain-text, tab-separated file with one row per SNP (genetic marker). This is the most common export format used by consumer DNA labs. It typically includes columns forrsid, chromosome, position, and your genotype call..zip— A compressed archive that contains the.txtraw data file inside. You do not need to unzip it before uploading. helixXY decompresses it automatically during processing.
All supported labs produce files that use Illumina or Affymetrix microarray chips, which measure a discrete set of known SNP positions across your genome. helixXY requires a minimum of approximately 600,000 SNPs to generate a complete report suite. All currently supported labs meet or exceed this threshold.
If your lab provided both a .txt and a .zip version of your data, upload the .zip — it's the complete raw data file and often includes additional metadata used to improve report accuracy.
How to verify your file is compatible
If you're unsure whether the file you downloaded is the correct one, follow these quick checks before uploading:
Check the file extension
The file must end in .txt or .zip. If it ends in .pdf, .csv, or anything else, you likely downloaded a report summary rather than raw data. Return to your lab account and look for the raw data export.
Check the file size
A valid raw data file is typically between 5 MB and 30 MB. Files smaller than 1 MB are almost certainly not raw data. Files larger than 50 MB are unusual and may indicate a different format.
Peek at the contents
If your file is a .txt, open it in a text editor. The first few lines typically start with # comment characters followed by lab metadata, and the data rows contain an rsid column (e.g., rs1234567). If you see this pattern, your file is valid.
My lab isn't listed — what can I do?
We are actively expanding the list of compatible labs. If your lab produces a raw data file in a standard tab-separated format that includes an rsid column, there is a good chance it will work with helixXY — even if the lab isn't officially listed yet. Contact our support team at support@helixxy.com with your lab name and, if possible, the first 5 lines of your raw data file, and we'll evaluate compatibility and let you know.
WGS (Whole Genome Sequencing) files from clinical labs are not currently supported. helixXY is built for consumer microarray data, which measures known variant positions. WGS files use a different format (typically VCF or FASTQ) and require a different analysis pipeline. Support for WGS is on our roadmap.