Have your raw DNA file from 23andMe, AncestryDNA or MyHeritage? This tool checks rs671, a change in the ALDH2 gene often linked to Asian flush (also called Asian glow).
Choose your file below to see whether it records GG, GA or AA, with a short explanation. The check runs entirely in your browser. Your DNA file and ALDH2 result are never sent to a server.
Choose a fileUse the raw .txt, .csv or .zip export from your DNA test, rather than a results PDF. No file? Try the example below.
01 / Background
Alcohol breakdown, flushing and health
The protein
ALDH2 is an enzymeโa protein that helps a chemical reaction happen. Its four parts work together to break down acetaldehyde. The rs671 change can affect how well it works.
The four parts of ALDH2, shown together.
ALDH2*2 ยท 1ZUM ยท X-ray structure, 2.10 ร
.
Simplified Cฮฑ trace. Colors are illustrative.
[A] / FLUSHING
For some people, ALDH2 works more slowly. Acetaldehyde, the harmful substance made from alcohol, can build up after a drink and cause flushing or an unwell feeling. The version you inherit can be part of the explanation. Other genes and some medicines can also cause flushing.
Read the health explanation โ[B] / WHY IT MATTERS
The same substance can damage cells. In people with slower ALDH2, drinking alcohol is linked to a higher risk of cancer of the food pipeโthe tube from your throat to your stomach. Your face color cannot tell you how much harm is happening. This tool cannot predict whether you will get ill.
See the research behind this โ[C] / OTHER RESEARCH
Your cells make certain harmful substances of their own. ALDH2 helps clear some of those too. Thatโs why scientists study it beyond alcohol and flushing. A DNA result alone cannot tell you how healthy your cells are or which supplements you need.
Read about ALDH2โs other work โThe change often linked to Asian flush is more common in people with East Asian ancestry. But people from other backgrounds can have it too. Your background alone cannot tell you your result.
02 / File checker
Reads rs671 only
TXT ยท CSV ยท ZIP
Your DNA stays on your device.The check runs entirely in this browser. Neither your DNA file nor your ALDH2 result is uploaded.The file check also works offline once this page has loaded.
Your DNA testing company may let you download a data file, often called โraw dataโ. It is different from a results PDF or screenshot. We need that file to read your ALDH2 result. If you havenโt taken a DNA test, you can explore the example above.
MyHeritage exports are supported as CSV, TXT, or a ZIP containing one raw data file. Provider menus can vary by region. Use only data you have permission to examine.
ALDH2
WHAT YOUR FILE SHOWS
These letters do not measure enzyme activity. No result makes alcohol safe.
You have two copies of this part of your DNA, one from each parent. Your test file labels each one G or A. Here, A marks a common change linked to slower ALDH2. Your ALDH2 result comes from this one spot, called rs671. It does not measure how well your body works or diagnose a health problem.
Your DNA file and result stay on your device. Clear or refresh this page to discard the result.
03 / Sources
Your displayed result explains one marker: ALDH2 rs671 on chromosome 12. This tool reads your existing provider export locally; it does not perform a new DNA test. A separate background check uses the full reportโs validator, including file format, reference build, declared strand, marker coordinates and supported alleles. Only the number of matching markers is kept to tailor the optional guide email. The ALDH2 result appears first, even if the full-report check cannot qualify the file. TXT, CSV and standard unencrypted ZIP exports are supported.
rs671 must have an unambiguous GG, GA/AG, or AA call. Missing calls, conflicting duplicates, and unsupported alleles are not interpreted. AG is displayed as GA. Reverse-strand calls are not automatically inferred. The complete file is checked for conflicting calls; a missing marker is never treated as GG. Consumer raw data can contain errors, and the parser cannot verify laboratory accuracy.
GG means the rs671 A allele was not found. GA and AA contain one or two copies of ALDH2*2, associated with reduced ALDH2 activity. This single call cannot explain every cause of flushing, diagnose ALDH2 deficiency, predict cancer risk or establish a safe amount of alcohol. A regional identity is not a genotype.
Data handling: your DNA file and result stay in browser memory. Clear or refresh to discard them. If you request the free ALDH2 guide, your email address, the aggregate number of report-matched markers, consent and delivery-validation fields are submitted. No individual marker IDs, DNA letters, filename or file content are sent. The email contains the general guide and an introduction to an optional full report; it contains no personal genotype. It does not subscribe you to a newsletter. Temporary delivery records limit repeat sends and contain no marker counts or genotypes. The aggregate count is used in the requested email; it is not added to the link or used to change the PDF.
Files are read in 256 KiB chunks, and ZIP integrity is checked locally. Ordinary web infrastructure may record request metadata, but this app does not log request bodies. The page loads Tailwind from a CDN; fonts, illustrations and code are embedded. No analytics, cookies, or browser storage are used. Research resources are linked for context, not queried with your data, and do not endorse this tool.
