diff --git a/R/calc_allele_freqs.R b/R/calc_allele_freqs.R
index 1e4813c..1edc246 100644
--- a/R/calc_allele_freqs.R
+++ b/R/calc_allele_freqs.R
@@ -16,10 +16,10 @@
 calc_allele_freqs <- function(human_profiles,
                               rm_markers = NULL,
                               check_inputs = TRUE) {
+  check_is_bool(check_inputs)
   if (check_inputs) {
-    # check if expected columns are present
     check_colnames(human_profiles, c("SampleName", "Marker", "Allele"))
-    check_ids(rm_markers, "rm_markers")
+    check_present(rm_markers, human_profiles, "Marker")
   }
 
   if (!is.null(rm_markers)) {
diff --git a/R/calc_log10_lrs.R b/R/calc_log10_lrs.R
index 67e3919..dfaf7b4 100644
--- a/R/calc_log10_lrs.R
+++ b/R/calc_log10_lrs.R
@@ -157,50 +157,47 @@ calc_log10_lrs <-
            seed = NULL,
            time_limit = 3,
            check_inputs = TRUE) {
+    check_is_bool(check_inputs)
     if (check_inputs) {
       check_colnames(
         bloodmeal_profiles,
         c("SampleName", "Marker", "Allele", "Height")
       )
       check_colnames(human_profiles, c("SampleName", "Marker", "Allele"))
-      check_ids(bloodmeal_ids, "bloodmeal_ids")
-      check_ids(human_ids, "human_ids")
+      check_present(bloodmeal_ids, bloodmeal_profiles, "SampleName")
+      check_present(human_ids, human_profiles, "SampleName")
 
-      kit_df <- check_kit(kit)
-
-      bm_prof_markers <- bloodmeal_profiles$Marker |>
-        unique() |>
-        toupper()
-      hu_prof_markers <- human_profiles$Marker |>
-        unique() |>
-        toupper()
-      kit_markers <- kit_df$Marker |>
+      kit_markers <- check_kit(kit)$Marker |>
         unique() |>
         toupper()
 
       check_setdiff_markers(
-        bm_prof_markers,
+        bloodmeal_profiles$Marker |>
+          unique() |>
+          toupper(),
         kit_markers,
         "bloodmeal_profiles",
         "kit"
       )
       check_setdiff_markers(
-        hu_prof_markers,
+        human_profiles$Marker |>
+          unique() |>
+          toupper(),
         kit_markers,
         "human_profiles",
         "kit"
       )
 
       check_peak_thresh(peak_thresh)
-      check_is_bool(model_degrad, "model_degrad")
-      check_is_bool(model_bw_stutt, "model_bw_stutt")
-      check_is_bool(model_fw_stutt, "model_fw_stutt")
-      check_is_numeric(difftol, "difftol", pos = TRUE)
-      check_is_numeric(threads, "threads", pos = TRUE)
-      if(!is.null(seed)){
-        check_is_numeric(seed, "seed")
+      check_is_bool(model_degrad)
+      check_is_bool(model_bw_stutt)
+      check_is_bool(model_fw_stutt)
+      check_is_numeric(difftol, pos = TRUE)
+      check_is_numeric(threads, pos = TRUE)
+      if (!is.null(seed)) {
+        check_is_numeric(seed)
       }
-      check_is_numeric(time_limit, "time_limit", pos = TRUE)
+      check_is_numeric(time_limit, pos = TRUE)
     }
 
     if (is.null(bloodmeal_ids)) {
diff --git a/R/checks.R b/R/checks.R
index d726597..0fdb33a 100644
--- a/R/checks.R
+++ b/R/checks.R
@@ -28,9 +28,10 @@ check_bistro_inputs <-
       c("SampleName", "Marker", "Allele", "Height")
     )
     check_colnames(human_profiles, c("SampleName", "Marker", "Allele"))
-    check_ids(bloodmeal_ids, "bloodmeal_ids")
-    check_ids(human_ids, "human_ids")
-    check_ids(rm_markers)
+    check_present(bloodmeal_ids, bloodmeal_profiles, "SampleName")
+    check_present(human_ids, human_profiles, "SampleName")
+    check_present(rm_markers, human_profiles, "Marker")
+    check_present(rm_markers, bloodmeal_profiles, "Marker")
 
     kit_df <- check_kit(kit)
 
@@ -68,17 +69,17 @@ check_bistro_inputs <-
     check_if_allele_freqs(pop_allele_freqs, calc_allele_freqs, kit_df)
 
     check_peak_thresh(peak_thresh)
-    check_is_bool(rm_twins, "rm_twins")
-    check_is_bool(model_degrad, "model_degrad")
-    check_is_bool(model_bw_stutt, "model_bw_stutt")
-    check_is_bool(model_fw_stutt, "model_fw_stutt")
-    check_is_bool(return_lrs, "return_lrs")
-    check_is_numeric(difftol, "difftol", pos = TRUE)
-    check_is_numeric(threads, "threads", pos = TRUE)
-    if(!is.null(seed)){
-      check_is_numeric(seed, "seed")
+    check_is_bool(rm_twins)
+    check_is_bool(model_degrad)
+    check_is_bool(model_bw_stutt)
+    check_is_bool(model_fw_stutt)
+    check_is_bool(return_lrs)
+    check_is_numeric(difftol, pos = TRUE)
+    check_is_numeric(threads, pos = TRUE)
+    if (!is.null(seed)) {
+      check_is_numeric(seed)
     }
-    check_is_numeric(time_limit, "time_limit", pos = TRUE)
+    check_is_numeric(time_limit, pos = TRUE)
   }
 
 #' Check is boolean
@@ -88,10 +89,10 @@ check_bistro_inputs <-
 #'
 #' @return Error or nothing
 #' @keywords internal
-check_is_bool <- function(vec, vec_name) {
+check_is_bool <- function(vec) {
   if (!is.logical(vec)) {
     stop(
-      vec_name,
+      deparse(substitute(vec)),
       " must be a logical (TRUE or FALSE), but is ",
       class(vec),
       "."
@@ -107,11 +108,11 @@ check_is_bool <- function(vec, vec_name) {
 #'
 #' @return Error or nothing
 #' @keywords internal
-check_is_numeric <- function(vec, vec_name, pos = FALSE) {
+check_is_numeric <- function(vec, pos = FALSE) {
   if (!is.numeric(vec)) {
-    stop(vec_name, " must be numeric, but is ", class(vec), ".")
+    stop(deparse(substitute(vec)), " must be numeric, but is ", class(vec), ".")
   } else if (vec <= 0 && pos == TRUE) {
-    stop(vec_name, " must be greater than zero, but is ", vec, ".")
+    stop(deparse(substitute(vec)), " must be greater than zero, but is ", vec, ".")
   }
 }
 
@@ -240,9 +241,9 @@ check_setdiff_markers <-
 #'
 #' @return Error or nothing
 #' @keywords internal
-check_ids <- function(vec, vec_name) {
+check_ids <- function(vec) {
   if (!is.null(vec) && !is.vector(vec)) {
-    stop(vec_name, " must be NULL or a vector but is: ", class(vec))
+    stop(deparse(substitute(vec)), " must be NULL or a vector but is: ", class(vec))
   }
 }
 
@@ -260,7 +261,7 @@ check_colnames <- function(df, expected_colnames) {
     expected_colnames[!expected_colnames %in% names(df)]
   if (length(missing_colnames) > 0) {
     stop(paste0(
-      "Not all expected column names are present. Missing: ",
+      "Not all expected column names are present in ", deparse(substitute(df)), ". Missing: ",
       paste0(missing_colnames, collapse = ", ")
     ))
   }
@@ -309,7 +310,7 @@ check_create_db_input <- function(bloodmeal_profiles,
     bloodmeal_profiles,
     c("SampleName", "Marker", "Allele")
   )
-  check_ids(rm_markers)
+  check_present(rm_markers, bloodmeal_profiles, "Marker")
   check_peak_thresh(peak_thresh)
   kit_df <- check_kit(kit)
   kit_markers <- kit_df$Marker |>
@@ -331,3 +332,21 @@ check_create_db_input <- function(bloodmeal_profiles,
   )
   length(kit_markers)
 }
+
+#' Check if input markers to remove are present in the dataset
+#'
+#' @param df Data frame to check against
+#' @inheritParams bistro
+#'
+#' @return Warning or nothing
+#' @keywords internal
+check_present <- function(to_rm, df, col) {
+  check_ids(to_rm)
+  not_present <- setdiff(toupper(to_rm), toupper(unlist(df[, col])))
+  if (length(not_present) > 0) {
+    warning(
+      "These are not present in ", deparse(substitute(df)), "[,", deparse(substitute(col)), "]: ",
+      not_present
+    )
+  }
+}
diff --git a/R/identify_matches.R b/R/identify_matches.R
index 5151e6e..602fa8c 100644
--- a/R/identify_matches.R
+++ b/R/identify_matches.R
@@ -161,7 +161,7 @@ identify_matches <- function(log10_lrs,
         "log10_lr", "notes"
       )
     )
-    check_ids(bloodmeal_ids, "bloodmeal_ids")
+    check_present(bloodmeal_ids, log10_lrs, "bloodmeal_id")
   }
 
   if (is.null(bloodmeal_ids)) {
diff --git a/R/match_exact.R b/R/match_exact.R
index 0d31efa..771ea7b 100644
--- a/R/match_exact.R
+++ b/R/match_exact.R
@@ -32,10 +32,11 @@ match_exact <- function(bloodmeal_profiles,
     )
   }
   check_colnames(human_profiles, c("SampleName", "Marker", "Allele"))
-  check_ids(bloodmeal_ids, "bloodmeal_ids")
-  check_ids(human_ids, "human_ids")
-  check_is_bool(rm_twins, "rm_twins")
-  check_ids(rm_markers, "rm_markers")
+  check_present(bloodmeal_ids, bloodmeal_profiles, "SampleName")
+  check_present(human_ids, human_profiles, "SampleName")
+  check_is_bool(rm_twins)
+  check_present(rm_markers, bloodmeal_profiles, "SampleName")
+  check_present(rm_markers, human_profiles, "SampleName")
 
   bloodmeal_profiles <- prep_bloodmeal_profiles(
     bloodmeal_profiles,
diff --git a/R/match_similarity.R b/R/match_similarity.R
index 3b10ba1..f6992c9 100644
--- a/R/match_similarity.R
+++ b/R/match_similarity.R
@@ -45,11 +45,12 @@ match_similarity <- function(bloodmeal_profiles,
     )
   }
   check_colnames(human_profiles, c("SampleName", "Marker", "Allele"))
-  check_ids(bloodmeal_ids, "bloodmeal_ids")
-  check_ids(human_ids, "human_ids")
-  check_is_bool(rm_twins, "rm_twins")
-  check_ids(rm_markers, "rm_markers")
-  check_is_bool(return_similarities, "return_similarities")
+  check_present(bloodmeal_ids, bloodmeal_profiles, "SampleName")
+  check_present(human_ids, human_profiles, "SampleName")
+  check_is_bool(rm_twins)
+  check_present(rm_markers, bloodmeal_profiles, "SampleName")
+  check_present(rm_markers, human_profiles, "SampleName")
+  check_is_bool(return_similarities)
 
   bloodmeal_profiles <- prep_bloodmeal_profiles(
     bloodmeal_profiles,
diff --git a/R/match_static_thresh.R b/R/match_static_thresh.R
index fa79893..ac3674c 100644
--- a/R/match_static_thresh.R
+++ b/R/match_static_thresh.R
@@ -15,6 +15,14 @@
 #' )
 #' match_static_thresh(bistro_output$lrs, 10)
 match_static_thresh <- function(log10_lrs, thresh) {
+  check_colnames(
+    log10_lrs,
+    c(
+      "bloodmeal_id", "human_id",
+      "locus_count", "est_noc", "efm_noc",
+      "log10_lr", "notes"
+    )
+  )
   check_is_numeric(thresh, pos = TRUE)
 
   bm_info <- log10_lrs |>
diff --git a/R/preprocess_data.R b/R/preprocess_data.R
index ba4d842..4f9a147 100644
--- a/R/preprocess_data.R
+++ b/R/preprocess_data.R
@@ -17,14 +17,16 @@ prep_bloodmeal_profiles <- function(bloodmeal_profiles,
                                     rm_markers = c("AMEL"),
                                     check_heights = TRUE,
                                     check_inputs = TRUE) {
+  check_is_bool(check_inputs)
   if (check_inputs) {
     check_colnames(
       bloodmeal_profiles,
       c("SampleName", "Marker", "Allele", "Height")
     )
-    check_ids(bloodmeal_ids, "bloodmeal_ids")
+    check_present(bloodmeal_ids, bloodmeal_profiles, "SampleName")
     check_peak_thresh(peak_thresh)
-    check_is_bool(check_heights, "check_heights")
+    check_present(rm_markers, bloodmeal_profiles, "Marker")
+    check_is_bool(check_heights)
   }
 
   if (is.null(bloodmeal_ids)) {
@@ -66,10 +68,12 @@ prep_human_profiles <- function(human_profiles,
                                 rm_twins = TRUE,
                                 rm_markers = c("AMEL"),
                                 check_inputs = TRUE) {
+  check_is_bool(check_inputs)
   if (check_inputs) {
     check_colnames(human_profiles, c("SampleName", "Marker", "Allele"))
-    check_ids(human_ids, "bloodmeal_ids")
-    check_is_bool(rm_twins, "rm_twins")
+    check_present(human_ids, human_profiles, "SampleName")
+    check_is_bool(rm_twins)
+    check_present(rm_markers, human_profiles)
   }
 
   if (rm_twins) {
diff --git a/README.Rmd b/README.Rmd
index 12d0d1b..531afaa 100644
--- a/README.Rmd
+++ b/README.Rmd
@@ -61,3 +61,8 @@ deps <- lapply(
 ## Usage
 
 Check out the [vignette](https://duke-malaria-collaboratory.github.io/bistro/articles/bistro.html) for more information. 
+
+## Have questions or need help troubleshooting?
+
+Open up an [issue](https://github.com/duke-malaria-collaboratory/bistro/issues) on our GitHub page or contact us (Christine: christine.markwalter@duke.edu, Zena: zenalapp@gmail.com) and we can help out.
+
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index c1ceefd..1ab63c0 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -33,10 +33,18 @@ remotes::install_github("duke-malaria-collaboratory/bistro")
 - Imports: codetools (\>= 0.2.19), dplyr (\>= 1.1.3), R.utils (\>=
   2.12.2), stringr (\>= 1.5.0), tibble (\>= 3.2.1), tidyr (\>= 1.3.0)
 - Suggests: knitr (\>= 1.43), readr (\>= 2.1.4), rmarkdown (\>= 2.24),
-  testthat (\>= 3.0.0)
+  testthat (\>= 3.2.0)
 
 ## Usage
 
 Check out the
 [vignette](https://duke-malaria-collaboratory.github.io/bistro/articles/bistro.html)
 for more information.
+
+## Have questions or need help troubleshooting?
+
+Open up an
+[issue](https://github.com/duke-malaria-collaboratory/bistro/issues) on
+our GitHub page or contact us (Christine:
+<christine.markwalter@duke.edu>, Zena: <zenalapp@gmail.com>) and we can
+help out.
diff --git a/man/check_ids.Rd b/man/check_ids.Rd
index 1794cc0..ea32452 100644
--- a/man/check_ids.Rd
+++ b/man/check_ids.Rd
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 \alias{check_ids}
 \title{Check input ids}
 \usage{
-check_ids(vec, vec_name)
+check_ids(vec)
 }
 \arguments{
 \item{vec}{vector to check}
diff --git a/man/check_is_bool.Rd b/man/check_is_bool.Rd
index 30fab42..ee389c5 100644
--- a/man/check_is_bool.Rd
+++ b/man/check_is_bool.Rd
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 \alias{check_is_bool}
 \title{Check is boolean}
 \usage{
-check_is_bool(vec, vec_name)
+check_is_bool(vec)
 }
 \arguments{
 \item{vec}{vector to check}
diff --git a/man/check_is_numeric.Rd b/man/check_is_numeric.Rd
index 768ad07..0788174 100644
--- a/man/check_is_numeric.Rd
+++ b/man/check_is_numeric.Rd
@@ -4,14 +4,14 @@
 \alias{check_is_numeric}
 \title{Check is numeric}
 \usage{
-check_is_numeric(vec, vec_name, pos = FALSE)
+check_is_numeric(vec, pos = FALSE)
 }
 \arguments{
 \item{vec}{vector to check}
 
-\item{vec_name}{vector name}
-
 \item{pos}{whether the number must be positive}
+
+\item{vec_name}{vector name}
 }
 \value{
 Error or nothing
diff --git a/man/check_present.Rd b/man/check_present.Rd
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0460a95
--- /dev/null
+++ b/man/check_present.Rd
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+% Generated by roxygen2: do not edit by hand
+% Please edit documentation in R/checks.R
+\name{check_present}
+\alias{check_present}
+\title{Check if input markers to remove are present in the dataset}
+\usage{
+check_present(to_rm, df, col)
+}
+\arguments{
+\item{df}{Data frame to check against}
+}
+\value{
+Warning or nothing
+}
+\description{
+Check if input markers to remove are present in the dataset
+}
+\keyword{internal}
diff --git a/tests/testthat/test-calc_allele_freqs.R b/tests/testthat/test-calc_allele_freqs.R
index 3326655..978f76f 100644
--- a/tests/testthat/test-calc_allele_freqs.R
+++ b/tests/testthat/test-calc_allele_freqs.R
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 test_that("calc_allele_freqs works", {
   expect_error(
     calc_allele_freqs(data.frame(name = 1)),
-    "Not all expected column names are present. Missing:"
+    "Not all expected column names are present in human_profiles. Missing:"
   )
 
   hu_prof_sub <-
diff --git a/tests/testthat/test-calc_log10_lrs.R b/tests/testthat/test-calc_log10_lrs.R
index af64ba2..99f0844 100644
--- a/tests/testthat/test-calc_log10_lrs.R
+++ b/tests/testthat/test-calc_log10_lrs.R
@@ -92,9 +92,6 @@ test_that("calc_log10_lrs works", {
     pop_allele_freqs = pop_allele_freqs,
     kit = "ESX17",
     peak_thresh = 200,
-    # seed = 1,
     check_inputs = TRUE
   )))
-
-
 })
diff --git a/tests/testthat/test-checks.R b/tests/testthat/test-checks.R
index 01d36d5..8524638 100644
--- a/tests/testthat/test-checks.R
+++ b/tests/testthat/test-checks.R
@@ -10,24 +10,29 @@ test_that("check_bistro_input works", {
 })
 
 test_that("check_is_bool works", {
-  expect_no_error(check_is_bool(TRUE, "v1"))
+  expect_no_error(check_is_bool(TRUE))
   expect_error(
-    check_is_bool(1, "v1"),
-    "v1 must be a logical"
+    check_is_bool(1),
+    "1 must be a logical"
   )
 })
 
 test_that("check_is_numeric works", {
-  expect_no_error(check_is_numeric(1, "v1"))
-  expect_no_error(check_is_numeric(-1, "v1"))
-  expect_no_error(check_is_numeric(1, "v1", pos = TRUE))
+  expect_no_error(check_is_numeric(1))
+  expect_no_error(check_is_numeric(-1))
+  expect_no_error(check_is_numeric(1, pos = TRUE))
   expect_error(
-    check_is_numeric(0, "v1", pos = TRUE),
-    "v1 must be greater than zero, but is 0."
+    check_is_numeric(0, pos = TRUE),
+    "0 must be greater than zero, but is 0."
   )
   expect_error(
-    check_is_numeric("a", "v1"),
-    "v1 must be numeric, but is character."
+    check_is_numeric("a"),
+    "must be numeric, but is character."
+  )
+  var <- "a"
+  expect_error(
+    check_is_numeric(var),
+    "var must be numeric, but is character."
   )
 })
 
@@ -80,13 +85,14 @@ test_that("check_if_allele_freqs works", {
 })
 
 test_that("check_ids works", {
-  expect_no_error(check_ids(NULL, "v1"))
-  expect_no_error(check_ids(1, "v1"))
-  expect_no_error(check_ids(1:2, "v1"))
-  expect_no_error(check_ids("a", "v1"))
+  expect_no_error(check_ids(NULL))
+  expect_no_error(check_ids(1))
+  expect_no_error(check_ids(1:2))
+  expect_no_error(check_ids("a"))
+  tib <- tibble::tibble(test = numeric())
   expect_error(
-    check_ids(tibble::tibble(test = numeric()), "v1"),
-    "v1 must be NULL or a vector but is: tbl_dftbldata.frame"
+    check_ids(tib),
+    "tib must be NULL or a vector but is: tbl_dftbldata.frame"
   )
 })
 
@@ -95,7 +101,7 @@ test_that("check_colnames works", {
 
   expect_error(
     check_colnames(tibble::tibble(test = 1), "test1"),
-    "Not all expected column names are present. Missing: test1"
+    "Not all expected column names are present in"
   )
 })
 
@@ -140,3 +146,11 @@ test_that("check_create_db_input working", {
     "ESX17", 0, c("AMEL")
   ), 16)
 })
+
+test_that("check_present working", {
+  expect_no_error(check_present(c("amel"), human_profiles, "Marker"))
+  expect_warning(
+    check_present(c("a"), human_profiles, "Marker"),
+    "These are not present in human_profiles"
+  )
+})
diff --git a/tests/testthat/test-preprocess_data.R b/tests/testthat/test-preprocess_data.R
index b381c06..fe55bec 100644
--- a/tests/testthat/test-preprocess_data.R
+++ b/tests/testthat/test-preprocess_data.R
@@ -1,11 +1,11 @@
 test_that("prep_bloodmeal_profiles works", {
-  expect_error(
+  expect_warning(expect_error(
     prep_bloodmeal_profiles(
       bloodmeal_profiles %>% dplyr::filter(Height < 200),
       peak_thresh = 200
     ),
     "All bloodmeal peak heights below threshold of 200."
-  )
+  ))
 
   expect_snapshot(prep_bloodmeal_profiles(
     bloodmeal_profiles,
diff --git a/vignettes/bistro.Rmd b/vignettes/bistro.Rmd
index ac36b3c..1c09ed3 100644
--- a/vignettes/bistro.Rmd
+++ b/vignettes/bistro.Rmd
@@ -269,3 +269,8 @@ bistro(samples, hu_db, "identifiler", 200,
 ## Running bistro step-by-step
 
 If you're interested in learning how to run sub-functions of `bistro()` individually, head over to `vignette("step-by-step")`. 
+
+
+## Have questions or need help troubleshooting?
+
+Open up an [issue](https://github.com/duke-malaria-collaboratory/bistro/issues) on our GitHub page or contact us (Christine: christine.markwalter@duke.edu, Zena: zenalapp@gmail.com) and we can help out.