Elaine, I just looked on the Family Tree DNA site at the various tests which are the ones you probably looked at too. I assume this is where your uncle was tested. If it is, it looks as if they preserve Y-DNA 12 samples, because they say they can be upgraded to a Y-Refine12to25 or a Y-Refine12to37. Here are a couple of product descriptions, found at this address: http://www.familytreedna.com/description.html Y-Refine12to25: This refinement of our 12 marker Y-DNA test dramatically reduces the time (in generations) to the Most Recent Common Ancestor. Y-DNA12to25 adds 13 additional markers to your previous results without the need for you to provide an additional sample. Therefore it can't be ordered as a stand-alone test without you having previously ordered the Y-DNA test. Y-Refine12to37: This refinement of our 12 marker Y-DNA test dramatically reduces the time (in generations) to the Most Recent Common Ancestor. Y-DNA12to37 adds 25 additional markers to your previous results without the need for you to provide an additional sample. Therefore it can't be ordered as a stand-alone test without you having previously ordered the Y-DNA test. So I assume from these descriptions that you don't have to worry about loosing family data. Also if you have a brother with your uncle's family name or a cousin, they can be tested in the future. As to which test? Herb obviously believes in the 37 marker test. Did you find any valid connections with the Whitt line in Virginia? I've never heard the name before, and I taught college for over 25 years. If the name is as unusual as it appears to me to be and if the people you matched have the same surname, you may not need additional tests to weed out wrong answers. If they have different surnames, perhaps you do. Now Herb is probably going to jump on my reply with both feet! : ) And I defer to his more learned opinion. Regards, Carol