Introduction
The Member Information report provides a wealth of information about your group members. Most of this information can be found in other places in GAP, but this report provides a quick, consolidated reference guide for much of the key information. Most of this information is self explanatory, though it is described in detail in the Using the Member Information report article. However, there are a few pieces of key information to make note of on this report.
Privacy Information
Because the genetic data of an individual is sensitive information, the test taker is in complete control of who is able to see some or all of their results. In terms of group projects, these settings are controlled in the Project Preferences tab of their Account Settings. A complete list of these permissions can be found on the Group Project Administrator Access Levels and Permissions page. These permissions affect many areas of your access to group members’ information as well as how it is displayed on the Project website. On the Member Information report there are a few of these permissions noted, which are explained in detail below:
- Release – This indicates whether or not the project member has opted into matching. This does not affect how their results are displayed in GAP or on the project website. However, this can restrict the ability of group administrators to view the group members matches while viewing their kit regardless of Group Project Administrator Access Level.
-
Access Granted – This indicates the level of access granted to the administrator. There are three levels available, as described briefly in the chart above and in more detail on the Group Project Administrator Access Levels and Permissions page. What do these levels mean in practical terms for administrators?
- Minimum – Y-DNA and mtDNA results and genealogy are essential to many projects, thus a Minimum level of access is required.
- Limited – For many administrators to provide the best service possible, the ability to view project members’ matches, tools, and haplotrees is essential. For this reason we recommend Limited access for group members, and it is reasonable to request group members to permit this level of access.
- Advanced – This level of access grants an administrator almost full access to the group members kit including the ability to change contact information, upload or change trees or other genealogical information, and order additional testing. Because of the high level of trust entailed in granting this access level, it is generally reserved only for members who need it. Examples include kits that you personally own or manage, group members who require assistance in ordering testing or adding trees or other genealogical information, or to act as a beneficiary for the kit.
- Publicly Share DNA Results – Displays whether or not the project member allows their pseudonymized DNA results to be shown on the Group Project DNA Results reports publicly. This information will always be shown to signed-in project members if you have selected to display mtDNA or Y-DNA DNA results pages on the Public Website page in GAP. This setting is determined by the Group Project Profile section in the Project Preferences tab of the member’s Account Settings
- Publicly Share DNA Results – This indicates whether or not the project member has allowed their mtDNA Coding Region mutations to be displayed in any applicable reports in GAP. Some of these mutations have medical implications and thus some members choose to keep this information private. These mutations will never appear to other group members or to the public on the project website regardless of this setting.
Participation
The Member Information report can also be a good indicator of the activity or interest level of a project member. It displays information such as the last time they signed in, if the collection kit has been received by the lab, and the privacy concerns the project member may have.
This report also lists the project members' email address in order to contact them to encourage them to change their access level, return a kit, or get clarification on their interest. If needed you can remove a project member as well. There are a variety of reasons to remove a project member. If they are unwilling to share their DNA test results for example, or if the tests they have are irrelevant to your project goals. When you do remove a project member, you must provide a reason.