title: Robust regression methods for real-time polymerase chain reaction.
abstract: Current real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) data analysis methods implement linear least squares regression methods for primer efficiency estimation based on standard curve dilution series. This method is sensitive to outliers that distort the outcome and are often ignored or removed by the end user. Here, robust regression methods are shown to provide a reliable alternative because they are less affected by outliers and often result in more precise primer efficiency estimators than the linear least squares method.
authors: HIV Translational Research Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, Ghent University and Ghent University Hospital, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium.
authors: Wim
authors: W
authors: Trypsteen
authors: Department of Mathematical Modelling, Statistics and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium.
authors: Jan
authors: J
authors: De Neve
authors: Department of Medical Microbiology and Virology, University Medical Center Utrecht, 3584 CX Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors: Kobus
authors: K
authors: Bosman
authors: Department of Medical Microbiology and Virology, University Medical Center Utrecht, 3584 CX Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors: Monique
authors: M
authors: Nijhuis
authors: Department of Mathematical Modelling, Statistics and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium; National Institute for Applied Statistics Research Australia (NIASRA), School of Mathematics and Applied Statistics, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia.
authors: Olivier
authors: O
authors: Thas
authors: HIV Translational Research Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, Ghent University and Ghent University Hospital, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium. Electronic address: linos.vandekerckhove@ugent.be.
authors: Linos
authors: L
authors: Vandekerckhove
authors: HIV Translational Research Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, Ghent University and Ghent University Hospital, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium.
authors: Ward
authors: W
authors: De Spiegelaere
mesh_terms: D016018:Least-Squares Analysis; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
keywords: Outliers; PCR efficiency estimation; Real-time PCR; Robust regression; Standard curve; qPCR