FAQ

Find out more about FaSTR™ DNA

FaSTR™ DNA developmental validation is available by clicking here(external link)[1]

Find out more about:

• FaSTR™ DNA 1.1.1 (and above) can read .fsa, .hid, and .promega files from the following instruments:

• FaSTR™ DNA is compatible with Windows 10 and 11 operating systems.
• Default settings for the following DNA multiplex profiling kits are provided: 

Note: Additional kits can be added manually or using manufacturer supplied bin and panel files. 

• ·      FaSTR™ DNA can detect and filter stutter peaks during analysis and results can be exported with or without stutter peaks.   
• ·      The FaSTR™ DNA stutter filters have the option of utilising any combination of the following stutter models:

• The stutter regression and exception files used in FaSTR™ DNA to filter stutter peaks can also be used in STRmix™.
• ·      FaSTR™ DNA can detect and automatically adjust the thresholds for composite stutters (peaks affected by multiple stutter positions). All modelled stutter types (unrestricted) are included in the composite stutter detection.

• FaSTR™ DNA can automatically estimate the number of contributors (NoC) to an autosomal STR profile using either the Maximum Allele Count (MAC) or the Decision Tree methods. Currently, decision trees are available for the GlobalFiler™ and PowerPlex® Fusion 6C DNA profiling kits. Additional decision trees can be trained, pending availability of sufficient exemplar data. 
• NoC  for a Y-STR profile can be estimated within the software using a heuristics-based method.
• Users may also manually assign the the autosomal or Y-STR NoC, which will supersede the FaSTR™ DNA assigned estimated NoC. 
• The NoC estimation decision path and covariate information (as part of the decision tree method) are fully auditable via output files. 

• ·      Samples analysed in FaSTR™ DNA can be exported directly from the project into STRmix™ versions 2.5 and above as pre-populated Batch interpretations. FaSTR™ DNA can optionally export samples into Batch Maker (STRmix™ 2.10 and above) for interpretation customisation (e.g. to assign references or to add an assumed contributor). 
• ·      The autosomal NoC assigned in FaSTR™ DNA will automatically be imported into STRmix™. For STRmix™ versions 2.6 and above, NoC values assigned as a range in FaSTR™ DNA will be interpreted in STRmix™ with a variable number of contributors (varNOC).
• FaSTR™ DNA integration validation plans are available for laboratories already using STRmix™. Support assistance is available upon request. 

• ·      Full analysis functionality in FaSTR™ DNA does not require an artificial neural network (ANN). However, when available, the ANN is a helpful tool that can assist users in the determination of peak type assignment as it is able to provide independent peak type classifications of detected peaks.
• ·      Pre-trained neural networks for the classification of the GlobalFiler™ and PowerPlex® Fusion 6C DNA profiling kits are available.

• ·      Negative controls and/or samples can be compared against other samples within a project or to a database for quality checks.

• The Review module provides a seamless integration of the technical review workflow into the analysis software.
• Designed to assist with the comparison of two FaSTR™ DNA projects containing the same set of samples (including allelic ladders) and analysed using the same method.  
• The Review module is flexible and can be utilised for laboratories with various reader workflows, such as two independent analysts or one analyst with a reviewer.
• Any differences in analysis (e.g. peak label, peak removal/retention, peak nature (allele or stutter), or peak size) will be flagged. Differences at the sample level (e.g. NoC assignment and sample status, ILS alignment, ladder allocation) are also detected. 
• Reviewers can evaluate the conflicts between the two projects while viewing the EPGs side-by-side. All sample and peak information is provided, just as it appears in the analysis review screen. 
• A report of the review can be generated for audit purposes, documenting edits with analyst username and time of change.
• A final project can be created from the Review module and electropherogram PDF reports, NoC assignment, and genotypes tables can be generated.  Samples can also be sent directly from the Review module to STRmix™ for deconvolution. 

• ·      FaSTR™ DNA can detect various artefacts (e.g. pull-ups) based on customisable analysis rule settings. Peaks identified as potential artefacts requiring further investigation are marked for review.
• Users also have the option to automatically filter, mark for review or add a comment to peaks that fall within a specified artefact range or are consistently observed in a specified location relative to a parent peak. 
• Known profiling kit artefacts, such as those published by kit manufacturers or tracked by a laboratory, may be catalogued in a Known artefacts list that can be linked to a profiling kit. 
  
• Known artefacts can be characterised either by a defined size range (per dye channel) and height range (RFU), or by a position relative to another peak (number of STR repeat units greater- or less than, and the number of base pairs greater- or less than), and a peak height ratio

• Shortcut keys allow for quick action commands (e.g. label a peak as  stutter) or access to various functions, such as the pull-up investigation screen and visualising raw data.
• Snips (or snapshots) of the EPG can be captured and the images added to the end of the sample electropherogram PDF report.  Comments can be added to a snip that will appear in the snipped image on the EPG report
• Informative displays, such as total allelic peak height per locus, total allele count per locus, and maximum allele count for the sample for autosomal STR loci and, single-copy and multi-copy Y-STR loci, are available in the analysis review screen to optimise efficiency. 
• Control concordance is automatically performed, including evaluation of quality markers (for applicable kits) and primer flare, and any number of known control profiles can be added to FaSTR™ DNA.
• Better resolution of in 1base pair minor peaks allows for more accurate interpretation of results.