The health department of the stae of New York considers 23andMe’s genome scan to be a medical test that must be approved by regulators and ordered by a doctor.

A competing company, Navigenics, successfully applied to have its test licensed in New York. It has essentially put aside marketing to consumers, aiming instead at doctors. It is also courting corporations that might use the test as part of their employee wellness programs.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/20/business/20consumergenebar...

They can't accept samples from NY, or they can't send them to NY? I got the same message for Maryland, so I just sent them to my friend's place in Virginia.

In April 2008, New York State's Department of Health sent warning letters to six online genetic testing companies, including 23andme, notifying them that they cannot offer New York state residents genetic tests without a permit nor can they offer them without authorization from a physician. (wikipedia)