Simple Y-STR Infidelity DNA Testing
Simple Y-STR Infidelity DNA Testing - Private, Accurate, Confidential Results
Simple Y-STR Infidelity DNA Test
Do you suspect your spouse or partner of cheating? Have you found a suspicious item, stain, or other evidence and want to determine whether male DNA may be present?
Our Simple Y-STR Infidelity DNA Test is specifically designed to look for male DNA. Unlike standard autosomal DNA testing, which can detect and report both male and female DNA profiles, Y-STR testing targets genetic markers found on the male Y chromosome.
This can make Y-STR testing especially useful when you are specifically looking for male DNA on an item or sample, including situations where female DNA may also be present.
The Simple Y-STR Infidelity DNA Test looks for and reports male Y-STR DNA profiles from the submitted sample. It does not include comparison to a known male reference sample.
If you need a private DNA test that focuses specifically on determining what male Y-STR DNA profile or profiles may be present on an item, the Simple Y-STR Infidelity DNA Test may be the right testing option for you.
Please see our Infidelity Test Results Page for more information about infidelity DNA testing and test results.
How the Simple Y-STR Infidelity DNA Test Works
With our Simple Y-STR Infidelity DNA Test, our DNA analysts use male-specific Y-STR testing to look for and report Y-STR DNA profiles recovered from the submitted sample.
Unlike standard autosomal infidelity DNA testing, which can look for DNA profiles from both males and females, Y-STR analysis focuses specifically on DNA from males.
The testing process is broken down into these steps:
Look for male Y-STR DNA on the submitted sample or item.
If sufficient male DNA is recovered, we will attempt to develop a Y-STR DNA profile. The Y-STR markers obtained during testing will be displayed on the laboratory report.
Evaluate the Y-STR profile or profiles recovered from the submitted sample. Depending on the sample, testing may indicate a single male Y-STR profile or evidence of more than one male contributor.
Report the Y-STR results obtained from the submitted sample. Because this is our Simple Y-STR test, a known male reference sample is not included for comparison.
When testing is complete, Validity Genetics will generate a laboratory report showing the Y-STR results obtained from the submitted sample.
Why Use Y-STR Testing?
Y-STR testing can be particularly helpful when the primary question is whether male DNA is present on an item.
Because Y-STR testing specifically targets the male Y chromosome, female DNA is not reported as a Y-STR profile. This can make Y-STR analysis useful for samples containing a large amount of female DNA where you are specifically interested in looking for male DNA.
For example, Y-STR testing may be considered for:
Underwear or other clothing
Bedding and sheets
Swabs taken from a suspicious stain or area
Used condoms
Personal items
Other forensic or non-standard samples that may contain male DNA
The ability to obtain a Y-STR profile will depend on the amount and quality of male DNA present in the submitted sample.
Simple Y-STR vs. Advanced Y-STR Infidelity Testing
The Simple Y-STR Infidelity DNA Test is designed for situations where you want to look for and report male Y-STR DNA profiles from a submitted item but do not need to compare those results to a known male.
If you want to determine whether a recovered Y-STR profile is consistent with a particular male reference sample, our Advanced Y-STR Infidelity DNA Test may be the better option.
The Advanced test includes a male reference sample for comparison. If a suitable Y-STR profile is recovered from the submitted evidence, our analysts can compare it against the Y-STR profile obtained from the known male reference sample.
Learn More About the Advanced Y-STR Infidelity DNA Test
Important Information About Y-STR DNA Profiles
Y-STR DNA is passed from father to son through the paternal line. Because of this, males who share the same paternal lineage—such as a father, son, brother, paternal uncle, or paternal grandfather—may have the same or a very similar Y-STR profile.
The Simple Y-STR Infidelity DNA Test does not include a reference comparison, but this characteristic of Y-STR DNA is important when interpreting Y-STR profiles and deciding whether additional comparison testing may be appropriate.
What To Do After Ordering Your Test
The Simple Y-STR Infidelity DNA Test does not require a reference sample and we do not ship a DNA collection kit for this test. You will submit the item or sample you want analyzed directly to our laboratory.
After ordering, you will receive additional instructions explaining how to prepare and submit your sample.
Depending on the type of item, we generally recommend placing the Special Sample inside a clean paper bag or envelope rather than a plastic or zip-lock bag.
On the outside of the bag or envelope, please include:
Your order number
A brief description of the item
Date of collection, if known
Approximate age of the sample, if known
Learn more about gathering, packaging, and labeling Special Samples.
Place the packaged sample inside an appropriate shipping box or mailer and send it to our laboratory. We highly recommend using a shipping service that provides tracking.
Send samples to:
Validity Genetics DNA
500 South Main Street
Las Cruces, NM 88001
Forensic or Special Samples for Y-STR Infidelity Testing
What Types of Items Can Be Tested?
Many different items may contain male DNA that can potentially be analyzed using Y-STR testing.
Common samples may include:
Used condoms
Toothbrushes
Stained sheets or bedding
Underwear and other clothing
Blood
Hair with suitable root material
Swabs collected from suspicious areas or stains
This is not a complete list of possible sample sources.
Click here for more examples of samples used for DNA testing.
Other items that may contain DNA include dental floss, toothpicks, nail clippings, clothing, hats, bandanas, personal hygiene items, and other objects that may contain biological material.
Because the amount and quality of DNA can vary significantly between different types of samples, successful Y-STR profiling cannot be guaranteed.
Contact us if you have questions about whether your sample may be appropriate for Y-STR testing.
Special Note About Old or Degraded DNA Samples
Have you had a suspicious item stored for some time? It may still be possible to test it.
Ultraviolet light, extreme temperatures, moisture, bacteria, and other environmental conditions can contribute to DNA degradation. However, an older or partially degraded sample may still contain sufficient male DNA to obtain Y-STR results.
The success of testing will depend on the amount, quality, and condition of the DNA available on the submitted item.
Have a Question About a Sample?
Our team can help you determine whether Y-STR testing or another infidelity DNA testing option may be more appropriate for your situation.
Simple Y-STR Infidelity DNA Test: Frequently Asked Questions
What Does the Simple Y-STR Infidelity DNA Test Look For?
The Simple Y-STR Infidelity DNA Test specifically looks for male Y-STR DNA on a submitted item or sample.
If sufficient male DNA is recovered, our laboratory will attempt to develop and report a Y-STR DNA profile from the submitted evidence.
What Is the Difference Between Y-STR and Regular Infidelity DNA Testing?
Standard autosomal infidelity DNA testing can look for and report DNA profiles from both males and females.
The Simple Y-STR Infidelity DNA Test focuses specifically on male DNA by analyzing genetic markers located on the Y chromosome.
This makes Y-STR testing particularly useful when your primary goal is to look for male DNA rather than all human DNA present on an item.
What Is the Difference Between the Simple and Advanced Y-STR Infidelity Tests?
Both tests use Y-STR analysis to look specifically for male DNA.
The Simple Y-STR Infidelity DNA Test looks for and reports Y-STR DNA profiles obtained from the submitted evidence. It does not include comparison against a known male reference sample.
The Advanced Y-STR Infidelity DNA Test includes this additional comparison. If a suitable Y-STR profile is recovered from the submitted evidence, it can be compared against a Y-STR profile obtained from a known male reference sample.
If you simply want to determine what male Y-STR profile or profiles may be present, the Simple Y-STR Test may be appropriate. If you want to compare the male DNA recovered from an item against a known male, consider the Advanced Y-STR Test.
Learn More About the Advanced Y-STR Infidelity DNA Test
Will Female DNA Show Up on a Y-STR Test?
Female DNA does not produce a Y-STR profile because females do not normally have a Y chromosome.
This is one of the primary reasons Y-STR testing can be useful when an item contains female DNA but the testing question is specifically whether male DNA can also be detected.
Does the Simple Y-STR Test Compare the DNA to My Partner?
No. The Simple Y-STR Infidelity DNA Test does not include a reference DNA comparison.
If you want a Y-STR profile recovered from an item compared against a known male reference sample, our Advanced Y-STR Infidelity DNA Test is designed for that purpose.
Can a Y-STR Test Tell Me if Semen Is Present?
No. Y-STR testing looks for and analyzes male DNA; it does not determine what type of biological material the DNA came from.
Male DNA can potentially originate from several types of biological material, so finding male Y-STR DNA should not by itself be interpreted as confirmation that semen is present.
If you specifically need to determine whether semen is present on an item, our Semen Detection Test is the appropriate testing service.
Depending on your situation, semen detection and DNA testing may also be performed as separate testing steps.
Can a Y-STR Profile Identify a Specific Man?
A Y-STR profile should not be interpreted as uniquely identifying one particular male.
Y-STR DNA is inherited through the paternal line. Males who share the same paternal lineage—such as fathers, sons, brothers, paternal uncles, and paternal grandfathers—may therefore have the same or very similar Y-STR profiles.
If you need to compare the Y-STR DNA recovered from an item against a known male reference sample, consider our Advanced Y-STR Infidelity DNA Test.
How Fast Can I Get My DNA Results?
Our Infidelity DNA Test results are generally completed within 5–7 business days after the samples are received and placed into testing.
Business days are Monday through Friday and do not include weekends or holidays.
What If I Am Not Sure Whether Y-STR Testing Is Right for My Sample?
Contact us before ordering. Tell us what type of item you have, what you are trying to determine, and whether you need to compare the results against a known person.
We can help determine whether the Simple Y-STR Infidelity DNA Test, Advanced Y-STR Infidelity DNA Test, standard autosomal Infidelity DNA Testing, Semen Detection Test, or another testing option is best suited to your situation.