- Course Introduction
- 01: Evidence & DNA
- 02: Forensic Biology
- 03: DNA Extraction & Quantitation
- 04: DNA Amplification
- 05: Amplified DNA Product Separation
- 06: STR Data Analysis & Interpretation
- Data Troubleshooting
- Data Interpretation & Allele Calls
President's DNA Initiative
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Advancing Justice Through DNA Technology
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Advancing Justice Through DNA Technology
DNA Analyst Training
Reporting Guidelines
Home > STR Data Analysis & Interpretation > Data Interpretation & Allele Calls > Reporting Guidelines
An inclusion or match is reported when all the loci from which a result is obtained match or shows concordance between a questioned sample and a known. A report contains the conclusions that an analyst has made based on the scientific data and established interpretation procedures.
Inclusion/Match
An inclusion or match is reported when all the loci from which a result is obtained match between a questioned sample and a known. With the exception of paternity testing, if the result for even one locus does not match and is discordant, an exclusion is declared. A minimum of a two-locus exclusion is needed in order to declare an exclusion for paternity.
Click here to read more about the rules for parentage and relatedness in Subject 07, Module 02.
Inclusions or matches should be supported by statistical calculations.
Click here to view an explanation of a match.
Exclusion/Non-match
An exclusion or non-match is reported when loci from which results are obtained are discordant between a questioned sample and a known.
Click here to view an explanation of a non-match.
Inconclusive/ Uninterpretable
There are occasions when an analyst cannot interpret data or the data is inconclusive. Some mixtures may be too complex to render conclusions and will be reported as uninterpretable. Low level and/or degraded DNA samples may result in inconclusive results at some or all loci.
Click here to view an explanation of an inconclusive electropherogram.
No Results
No results are reported when there is no discernable allelic activity observed at a locus.
Click here to view an explanation of an electropherogram that shows no results.
Click here to read more about Reporting in Subject 08.
