How to Backup Your Dante Labs Genomic Data

Dante Labs accounts typically include two kinds of assets: interpreted reports (PDF-ready clinical summaries) and raw sequencing files (FASTQ, VCF, or similar formats used by bioinformatics tools).

Most people interact with reports day to day. Raw files are larger and more technical, but they are the ultimate backup. You can re-analyze them with future tools even if today's report formats change.

Start with a complete PDF export of every report visible on genome.danteomics.com/reports. PDFs are human-readable, easy to share with clinicians, and work with document search and AI tools.

Use a consistent folder structure: a top-level Dante Labs Backup folder with subfolders by year or report type. Include a simple text file noting the export date and how many reports were captured.

If your account provides download links for raw data, download those files promptly and verify file sizes match what the portal shows. Raw genomics files can be many gigabytes, so use a stable connection and confirm downloads completed without corruption.

Keep raw files separate from everyday documents. An external SSD or NAS works well. Label the drive with your name, test date, and sequencing provider.

Follow the standard 3-2-1 approach: three copies of your data, on two different media types, with one copy off-site. For genomics, that might mean your laptop, an encrypted USB drive in a safe, and an encrypted cloud bucket you control.

Genomic data rarely changes once generated, so you mainly need to backup once thoroughly and then verify copies periodically, perhaps once a year.

Encrypt backups that leave your primary device. BitLocker, FileVault, VeraCrypt, or encrypted cloud storage all work. Treat genomic backups like medical records, not something to leave on an unencrypted shared drive.

If you share backups with family members or doctors, use a secure transfer method and only send the specific reports relevant to that conversation.