How do I pick which DNA items to screen in a homicide?

Short answer

Start with the most probative items, such as those where you may expect DNA from a POI and where the lab report conclusion said inconclusive, too complex, uninterpretable, insufficient, too many contributors, or similar phrasing.

What to do next

Select items that are most likely to carry DNA from your POI:
- weapon/handgun contact points
- clothing contact areas
- fingernails/defensive areas
- key touch surfaces (door handles/steering wheel/seatbelt)
Request the required electronic DNA data files (.fsa or .hid) from your lab.
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 key evidence items, the lab’s electronic data (.fsa or .hid files)
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 too complex mixture, compare items, etc.)

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

What you receive

A basic answer about the DNA information in your data, along with the next steps.

Common pitfalls

Assuming cartridges have no interpretable DNA
Not sending touch DNA data samples

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.