New publication - The reliability and reporting of DNA match strength for uncertain genotype evidence.

What Should I Ask the Lab to Send for a TrueAllele Sexual Assault DNA Review?

Short answer

Investigators may lose time because they do not know what to ask the lab for. The answer is simpler than it sounds: electronic DNA data files.

Ask for the lab’s electronic DNA data files, such as .fsa files and related exports, for the most probative evidence items. Start with rape kit samples and victim clothing when available. If there are reference profiles, ask for those too. That is enough to begin the free TrueAllele® DNA screening process.

What to do next

  1. Identify the most probative evidence items.
  2. Request the required electronic DNA data files (.fsa or .hid).
  3. Ask for any available reference profiles.
  4. Submit a Free TrueAllele Screening inquiry.

What to send

  • Please do not send biological evidence. The screening uses the lab’s autosomal STR electronic DNA data files (.fsa or .hid).

Please submit:

  • For the evidence items, the lab’s electronic data (.fsa or .hid)
  • For reference profiles (victim/elimination/POI), either allele lists or electronic data files
  • Allelic ladder files for any electronic data
  • Lab reports or other case documents
  • Item ID list (which swabs/items the files belong to)
  • A case submission form with case specific information and questions (e.g., compare to POI, interpret the inconclusive mixture, compare items, etc.)

For more information on what to request from the lab, see the Sending Cases for TrueAllele Processing page.

Ready to Submit?

Tell us about your case. We’ll review it and tell you if we can get more information from the DNA data.

Free Screening

We don’t retest physical evidence items. We interpret the electronic DNA data a lab already generated.