Why does my digital genome contain less than 100% of my genome data?
You can access the digital genomes stored in your account by signing into your Sequencing account and going to your All Genomes page. The percentage of data available in your digital genome is an approximation that's based on the human genome containing around 3 billion positions.
| Test Type | Genome Coverage | Whats Included? |
|---|---|---|
| 30× Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) | 100 % | Covers all 3 billion genomic positions |
| Genome VCF Only | 95 % | Includes SNPs & INDELs, but excludes some structural variants, CNVs, mitochondrial heteroplasmy, etc. |
| Low‑pass WGS (0.4×) | 1.4 % | Partial coverage; many regions not sequenced |
| Whole Exome Sequencing (WES) | 1 % | Covers coding regions (exons) only |
| DNA Microarrays | 0.01 % | Genotyping chip data, limited to selected SNPs |
Different types of DNA testing technology generate different amounts of genome data. The type of test(s) you have taken will determine the amount of your genome data available in your digital genome.
Why You See Missing Data
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Not all test types cover everything. Some methods target only specific genomic regions or variant types.
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File types matter. If your genome is based only on a VCF file, it won’t include raw read information needed for full coverage.
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Quality controls. Sequencing pipelines may exclude low‑quality or ambiguous regions to preserve data integrity.
How to Get 100 % Coverage
If your digital genome shows less than full coverage, here’s what you can do:
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Add whole genome sequencing data. Upgrading to 30× WGS will ensure full coverage.
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Upload raw sequencing files such as FASTQ, BAM, or CRAM, if available, to complement variant calls.
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Merge data sources. Combining data from multiple sequencing runs or file types helps fill in gaps.
Once you add full data, your digital genome will automatically update to reflect that new completeness.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I improve my coverage later?
Yes. If you upload additional data or upgrade to full genome sequencing, your digital genome’s coverage will increase accordingly.
Will a partial genome mean wrong results?
Not necessarily—but missing regions may reduce sensitivity for certain variant types, especially structural variants or mitochondrial variants.
Does 30× WGS always guarantee perfect data?
While 30× WGS targets full coverage, some genomic regions are inherently difficult to sequence. Quality filters may still remove low‑confidence data.
Why is coverage measured against 3 billion positions?
That number refers to the reference human genome length used to approximate full genomic positions.
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