Ensuring PCR Quality - Laboratory Organisation, PCR Optimization and Controls.

Three distinct levels of quality control should be considered when setting up PCR applications for use in the clinical laboratory. The primary level of quality control involves the organization of the laboratory and relevant logistical aspects, which are areas of major importance with respect to the avoidance of PCR contamination and the prevention of false positive clinical results. The secondary level of quality control involves PCR design, optimization and assay quality control per se. Finally, there may be individual quality considerations that are specifically related to individual types of PCR methodologies (especially reverse transcription PCR methodologies). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]