“Lab said…” glossary: lab results
and what they mean
Short answer
When a lab report concludes that DNA is inconclusive, uninterpretable, too complex, has too many contributors, or has insufficient quantities of DNA, it often means the lab couldn’t interpret the mixture using their standard protocols. That does not always mean the DNA is unusable. TrueAllele® technology can often obtain helpful information from the lab's data without retesting the physical evidence. The five most common phrases are listed below. Your DNA report may list other similar phrases.
Next step: Free TrueAllele Screening using the lab’s autosomal STR electronic DNA data files (.fsa or .hid).
Who uses this?
Investigators, prosecutors, defense attorneys, innocence groups, and crime labs.
1) Inconclusive
What it usually means: The lab detected DNA data, but couldn’t come to a conclusion on one or more parts of the mixture (often the “minor” contributor).
Why it happens: Low-level signal, too much DNA overlap, or the lab’s statistic is “uninformative”.
What to do next: TrueAllele screening on the same lab data, starting with the most probative items.
2) Uninterpretable
What it usually means: The lab saw a mixture, but it wasn’t usable under their reporting rules (too complex, too low-level, or too much DNA overlap).
Why it happens: Multiple contributors or low-level DNA
What to do next: Screen it anyway – especially for complex evidence like cartridges, vehicles, touch DNA, clothing mixtures, etc.
3) Too complex (often “too complex to interpret”)
What it usually means: The lab observed too many contributors or DNA overlap to separate the mixture.
Why it happens: Many or related contributors, low-level minor contributors, mixed touch DNA sources.
What to do next: Screen the most probative items first.
4) Too many contributors
What it usually means: The mixture likely includes more contributors than the lab can separate using their standard interpretation protocols.
What to do next: This is exactly when screening is worth doing – start with the 3-5 most probative items, and include reference profiles if you have them.
5) Insufficient quantities of DNA
What it usually means: The lab is saying there isn’t enough DNA signal to use for their normal interpretation and statistics.
What to do next: Screen it – especially for homicide and sex crimes when the item is probative (weapon, clothing, fingernails, key touch surface).
What to Do Next?
- Pull the lab report language and note which of the five phrases applies.
- Identify the 3-5 items most likely to carry the contributor(s) of interest.
- Get the required electronic DNA data files (.fsa or .hid).
- Submit a Free TrueAllele Screening inquiry.
For more information on what to request from the lab, see the Sending Cases for TrueAllele Processing page.
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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.