title: Relationship between detection limit and bias of accuracy of quantification of RNA by RT-PCR.
abstract: Evidence is presented demonstrating that the distribution of data obtained applying a given RT-PCR method deviates from a normal distribution depending on the limit of detection. The effect of this is a bias towards higher values and concomitantly a systematic error in respect to the accuracy of the evaluation due to this deviation from normality. In addition, evidence is presented that an evaluation assuming a log-normal distribution is more appropriate.
authors.affiliation: Baxter Vaccine AG, Biomedical Research Center, Uferstr. 15, 2304, Orth/Donau, Austria.
authors.forename: Carsten
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Urban
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schweinberger
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kundi
authors.forename: Friedrich
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Dorner
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hämmerle
mesh_terms: D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D030041:Hepatitis A virus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D016011:Normal Distribution; D012313:RNA / Q000032:analysis*; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D012016:Reference Values; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000592:standards*
chemical_list: D012367:RNA, Viral; D012313:RNA