Sequencing.com introduces first agnostic platform for genetic data

Originally published September 21, 2016. Updated 2026 to reflect the current state of the platform.

When Sequencing launched publicly in 2016, the central problem it set out to solve was fragmentation. Genetic data existed in dozens of proprietary formats, produced by dozens of labs and testing services, and none of it talked to each other. A person who had tested with one company had no practical way to use that data anywhere else. Sequencing changed that by building a platform that accepted genetic data from virtually any source and made it usable in one place.

That architecture is called Universal Genetic Data Compatibility, and it remains one of the foundational properties of the platform today.

What is Universal Genetic Data Compatibility?

Universal Genetic Data Compatibility means that the Sequencing platform is format agnostic. It does not require you to have tested with a specific lab or to use a specific file type. Whether your genetic data comes from whole genome sequencing, exome sequencing, a microarray test, or a PCR test, and whether it was produced by a major consumer genetics company, a clinical laboratory, or a research institution, the platform accepts it.

In practice this means that data from providers such as 23andMe, AncestryDNA, MyHeritage, Illumina, Dante Labs, Nebula Genomics, and many others can all be uploaded and used on the same platform, running the same apps and reports. The genetic data file types supported include FASTQ, FASTA, BAM, SAM, CRAM, VCF, and others.

This matters because sequencing technology and consumer testing have continued to grow rapidly since 2016. The market now includes far more providers, more file formats, and far more clinical and direct to consumer products than existed when this platform launched. Universal compatibility ensures that as the landscape changes, users are not locked in.

What the platform does with your genetic data

Storing genetic data is only the first step. The reason compatibility matters is that it unlocks what you can do with your data once it is on the platform.

Sequencing works with up to 100% of your DNA, covering over 30,000 genes. That depth makes it possible to run a wide range of health, nutrition, fitness, and clinical reports on a single Genome. The Partner Marketplace is where those reports and apps live. It includes tools from third party developers as well as reports developed by Sequencing, covering areas such as disease risk, pharmacogenomics, nutrition, fitness, mental health, and rare disease screening.

When Sequencing launched in 2016, this catalog was referred to as the DNA App Store. That product has since expanded and is now the Partner Marketplace, reflecting the broader range of clinical and health applications available and the professional and research audiences the platform serves alongside individuals and families.

Privacy and data ownership

A recurring concern in consumer genetics is who actually owns the data once it is uploaded. Sequencing's answer has been consistent since its founding: the person who uploads the data owns it. The platform does not sell genetic data to third parties. Data is stored under a Privacy Forever policy with no expiration.

For healthcare providers and researchers, the platform operates under HIPAA compliance and supports HIPAA Business Associate Agreements. Data encryption, access controls, and audit logging are part of the infrastructure across all account types.

Who the platform serves today

The agnostic architecture that made Sequencing distinctive in 2016 has expanded across several audiences over the past decade.

Individuals and families can upload genetic data from any source, access free and premium reports through the Partner Marketplace, and manage all of their genetic data in one secure account.

Healthcare professionals can store patient genetic data in a HIPAA compliant environment, run clinical interpretation apps, and manage each patient individually within their account.

Researchers and bioinformaticians get free unlimited storage, access to preloaded reference genomes including GRCh38, and a range of bioinformatics tools.

Genetic testing laboratories can join the Preferred Provider Network, giving their clients free secure storage and access to the Partner Marketplace for their results.

How the platform has evolved since 2016

The core promise from the 2016 launch, that one platform can work with genetic data from any source, has held. What has changed is the depth and clinical relevance of what that platform offers.

Whole genome sequencing at clinical grade (30x coverage, CLIA certified) is now available directly through Sequencing, which means users can sequence their genome and have it automatically accessible on the platform without a separate upload step. The Sequencing Health Scan and other products reflect how the platform has moved from being a compatibility layer toward being a full genomic health service. The Partner Marketplace has grown to include a broad range of apps from third party developers alongside Sequencing's own clinical products.

CEO Brandon Colby noted at launch that between 100 million and 2 billion human genomes were expected to be sequenced within the following eight years. That projection has proven directionally accurate. Global sequencing capacity has expanded substantially, whole genome sequencing costs have continued to fall, and consumer and clinical genomics have both grown as categories. The infrastructure Sequencing built in 2016 was designed to scale with that growth.

Getting started

If you already have genetic data from a previous test, you can upload it to your free Sequencing account and start using it immediately. If you do not have genetic data yet, Sequencing offers whole genome sequencing kits that analyze 100% of your DNA. The Partner Marketplace is where you can explore the full range of reports and apps available once your data is on the platform.