DNA-testing company 23andMe has signed a $300 million deal with a drug giant. Here's how to delete your data if that freaks you out.

The core service provided by most commercial genetic tests is built on the extraction of your DNA from your spit — that's how you get the information about your health or ancestry.

After registering your spit sample online with 23andMe, you will be asked whether you'd like your saliva to be stored or discarded. But you are not asked the same question about your raw genetic data, the DNA extracted from your spit.

Based on the wording of something called the "biobanking consent document," it's a bit unclear what happens to that raw DNA once you decide to have 23andMe either store or toss your spit.

Here's what it says (emphasis added):

"By choosing to have 23andMe store either your saliva sample or DNA extracted from your saliva, you are consenting to having 23andMe and its contractors access and analyze your stored sample, using the same or more advanced technologies."

That leaves a bit of a gray area as far as what 23andMe has the ability to keep and how it can use your DNA information. If your spit or DNA sample is stored, the company can hold onto it for one to 10 years, "unless we notify you otherwise," the document says.

Still, you can submit a request that the company discard your spit or close your account. To find instructions to do so, go to its customer-care page, navigate to "accounts and registration," scroll to the bottom of the bulleted list of options under "account creation and access," and select the last one, "requesting account closure."

If you want to delete your DNA test results with Ancestry, use the navigation bar at the top of the homepage to select "DNA." On the page with your name at the top, scroll to the upper right corner, select "settings," then go to "delete test results" on the column on the right side.

The company's latest privacy statement says that doing this will result in Ancestry deleting the following within 30 days: "all genetic information, including any derivative genetic information (ethnicity estimates, genetic relative matches, etc.) from our production, development, analytics, and research systems."

However, it says that if you opted into Ancestry's "informed consent to research" when you signed up, the company cannot wipe your genetic information from any "active or completed research projects." But it will prevent your DNA from being used for new research.

To direct the company to discard your spit sample, you must call member services.

"Protecting customers' privacy is our highest priority," an Ancestry spokesperson told Business Insider over email. "We do not and will not sell DNA data to insurers, employers or third party marketers without customers' explicit consent. Customers must explicitly opt-in to participate in scientific research and can revoke permission at any time."

Helix will toss your spit upon request but can keep data 'indefinitely'

In its latest privacy policy, Helix, a consumer genetics-testing company based in San Francisco, says it may "store your DNA indefinitely."

The company also stores your saliva sample. You can request your spit be destroyed by contacting Helix's customer-care division. There, you'll find a request form that looks similar to 23andMe's.

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