| quality controls | goal of quality controls |
---|---|---|
1 | PCR positive controls (quantitatively¸ using synthetic DNA covering the real-time PCR target region (Integrated DNA Technologies IDT, Coralville, IA, USA)) | functionality of PCR test protocols |
2 | PCR negative controls (PCR-grade nuclease free water) | absence of contamination in reagents |
3 | negative extraction controls (extraction positions filled with lysis solution and PCR-grade nuclease free water only) | absence of cross-contamination during the extraction process |
4 | RNA pre-analytical quality control targeting feline ssr rRNA (18S rRNA) gene complex | quality and integrity of the RNA as a measure of sample quality |
5 | a swab-based environmental contamination monitoring control | absence of contamination in laboratory |
6 | spike-in internal positive control (using lambda phage DNA) | absence of PCR inhibitory substances as a carryover from sample matrix |