Forensic laboratories worldwide are adopting NGS technologies for their increased sensitivity and capacity to analyse a wide spectrum of genetic markers (STRs, SNPs, mitochondrial DNA, RNA and microbial DNA). Our first stop on the road map to implementing NGS analyses in our routine operations was the validation of the MainstAY SE kit, which targets 28 autosomal and 25 Y-chromosome STR loci, for the MiSeq FGx system (Qiagen). Through our validation work, we analyzed 359 single-source profiles to characterize artifacts (stutter and sequence noise) and their rates, document disparities between capillary electrophoresis (CE) and sequencing results, and gather information for data interpretation (heterozygote imbalance, inter-locus amplification efficiency, and drop-out/drop-in probabilities). Currently, our lab is using MainstAY to establish reference profiles with plans to gradually replace traditional CE STR analysis with high-throughput sequencing. In addition, we are visualizing profiles with a tool that we have developed to facilitate interpretation and ease this transition. Next stop: mixture analysis. Join us in exploring key features of sequence-based STR-typing validation.