Statistical analysis of quantitative RT-PCR results.
Real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) represents a benchmark technology in the detection and quantification of mRNA. Yet, accurate results cannot be realized without proper statistical analysis of RT-PCR data. Here, we examine some of the issues concerning RT-PCR experiments that would benefit from rigorous statistical treatment, including normalization, quantification, efficiency estimation, and sample size calculations. Examples are used to illustrate the methods.
Preclinical Development Biostatistics, sanofi-aventis R&D, Inc, Bridgewater, NJ, USA.
Richard
R
Khan-Malek
Ying
Y
Wang
D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D012984:Software