Subtyping of D11S488 STR alleles by single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) analysis in two cases of disputed parentage.

In two normal trio cases of disputed parentage, we analyzed four short tandem repeat (STR) loci (FGA, TH01, D20S85, and D11S488). In one case, subtyping of alleles at the complex D11S488 locus by single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) analysis increased the combined probability of paternity. In the other case, subtyping increased the number of loci by which the paternity was excluded, from two to three. The present study suggests that inclusion of complex STR loci in an STR typing program coupled with the use of SSCP analysis is a practical way of parentage testing because of a saving of time and work without sacrifice of reliability.