100 U.S. forensic labs now use STRmix for complex DNA cases

One hundred U.S. forensic laboratories now use STRmix probabilistic genotyping software to interpret mixed or degraded DNA profiles that were once considered too complex to read. The milestone underscores broader adoption of the software across local, state, federal and private labs as agencies look for faster, more usable DNA results in criminal cases.

Why it matters: - STRmix is being used to turn previously unusable mixed DNA evidence into interpretable results in criminal investigations. - The software is now in 100 U.S. forensic laboratories, expanding access to probabilistic DNA interpretation across public and private casework. - The platform is also used in violent crime, sexual assault and cold cases, where evidence can be limited or degraded.

What happened: - One hundred local, state, federal and private forensic laboratories in the United States are now using STRmix probabilistic genotyping software. - The software is being used to resolve mixed DNA profiles that were previously regarded as too complex or degraded to interpret. - U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Laboratory first adopted STRmix in 2014. - Users now include the New York City Office of the Chief Medical Examiner and the California Department of Justice. - Federal users include the FBI and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. - Private users include Bode Technology and Pure Gold Forensics.

The details: - STRmix uses a fully continuous model instead of older binary interpretation methods. - The software proposes hundreds of thousands of possible profiles, compares them against the observed DNA mixture and assigns a likelihood ratio when a person of interest sample is available. - STRmix is designed to make better use of information in a DNA profile and can produce usable, interpretable and legally admissible results. - The software was originally developed for all nine state and territory forensic labs in New Zealand and Australia. - Inquiries from USACIL, NicheVision Forensics, the National Institute of Standards and Technology and the California Department of Justice helped lead to the 2014 global release of STRmix. - STRmix has produced DNA results in more than 700,000 criminal cases worldwide. - The latest version, STRmix 2.13, was released in fall 2025. - STRmix 2.13 adds new Batch Maker functionality for setting up replicate inputs in a batch. - STRmix 2.13 expands visualization tools with a Visualize Evidence function that lets analysts review and ignore any peak or locus in an electropherogram-style evidence file. - STRmix 2.13 also lets laboratories set up multiple PDF report templates and automatically generate more than one report at a time for a calculation. - The company also offers FaSTR DNA, which integrates with STRmix to rapidly analyze raw DNA data and estimate the number of contributors. - DBLR works with STRmix for kinship analysis, rapid database searches, mixture-to-mixture matches and visualization of DNA mixture evidence. - STRmix NGS handles fully continuous mixture interpretation and likelihood ratio generation for profiles produced by next-generation sequencing. - STRmix, FaSTR DNA and DBLR cover the workflow from analysis to interpretation and database matching, while STRmix NGS extends the range of profile types that can be interpreted. - For more information, visit the company's announcement.

Between the lines: - The 100-lab milestone suggests STRmix has moved from a specialized tool to a mainstream option in forensic DNA work. - The software’s appeal appears tied to speed, better use of DNA data and the ability to generate statistical weight-of-evidence measures that courts and labs can use. - The product line around STRmix shows the developer is building a broader forensic workflow, not just a single interpretation tool.

What's next: - STRmix’s broader U.S. footprint could lead to further adoption by additional crime labs and private forensic providers. - The update cycle for STRmix and related applications suggests more feature releases as laboratories demand faster analysis and expanded reporting tools. - Continued use in unresolved and complex cases may keep pushing demand for probabilistic genotyping software in forensic science.