What does “insufficient genetic information” mean for my DNA? Should I submit it for TrueAllele® screening?
Short answer
“Insufficient genetic information” means the lab is saying there isn’t enough DNA signal to use for their normal interpretation and statistics. This phrase is seen in mixture casework. For homicide cases, it can still be worth a Free TrueAllele Screening, especially if the item is highly probative (weapon, clothing contact area, fingernails, key touch surface).
What to do next
- Select the most probative items.
- 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
- Treating “insufficient” as “no value.” If the item is probative, it can still be worth screening.
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.