54
Amplification Curves
Problem
Cause
Solution
8
Amplification in
No Template
Control (NTC)
a. Reagent or genomic
contamination
Repeat protocol with fresh
reagents
b. Primer-dimer
formation
Use a master mix with good
hot start activity
9
Looping Data
Points during
early cycles; noisy
curve in early
cycles
a. Baseline adjustment
contains too many cycles
Reset baseline to 3 cycles
before indication of
amplification
b. Too much starting
material
Use less starting material
10
Slope of curve is
greater than or
less than -3.34
and R^2 is less
than 0.98
a. Inaccurate dilutions
Recalculate standard
concentration or gene copy
number using a
spectrophotometer; make
new stock solutions of the
control standards; eliminate
extreme concentrations
b. Standard curve exceeds
the linear range of
detection
11
Plateau has lower
than expected
fluorescence units
a. Limiting reagents
Confirm master mix
calculations
b. Degraded reagents (i.e.
master mix or dNTPs)
Repeat protocol with fresh
reagents