Patent ID: 7920971
Filing Date: 2011-04-05
Classification: C12Q

Abstract:
1. A method for quantification of at least one target nucleic acid in a test sample, the method comprising: a) providing at least one target nucleic acid together with at least one internal control in a common test sample, said internal control comprising a defined initial amount (Q b) amplifying said target nucleic acid and said control nucleic acid within said test sample in a common nucleic acid amplification process; c) measuring the amount of amplification product or a quantity indicating the amount of amplification product for said target nucleic acid and said control nucleic acid during said amplification in relation to an increasing progress parameter (cycle d) determining a characteristic value (nT e) if certain pre-defined conditions referring to the measured amount of amplification product for said control nucleic acid apply, determining a characteristic value (nQ i) the characteristic value for said control nucleic acid falls short of a predefined threshold value, ii) the characteristic value for said target nucleic acid exceeds a predefined threshold value, iii) the characteristic value for said control nucleic acid falls short of a threshold value defined in relation and greater than the characteristic value for said target nucleic acid, iv) the amount of amplification product or the quantity indicating the amount of amplification product for said control nucleic acid as measured or estimated for a final stage or near final stage of the amplification process exceeds of a predefined minimum plateau value, v) the amount of amplification product or the quantity indicating the amount of amplification product for said control nucleic acid as measured or estimated for a momentary state of the amplification process associated to the characteristic value for the target nucleic acid exceeds a predefined threshold value, the amount of amplification product, or the quantity indicating the amount of amplification product for said target nucleic acid as measured or estimated for said momentary state of the amplification process; f) selecting between a plurality of quantification schemes according to at least one predefined selection criterion, said selection being effected on basis of at least one of said measurement results related to the amount of amplification product for said target nucleic acid, measurement results related to the amount of amplification product for said control nucleic acid, and said characteristic value or values, wherein at least one quantification scheme of a first type provides for a quantification of the original amount (T wherein at least one quantification scheme of a second type provides for a quantification of the original amount (T g) quantifying the original amount of target nucleic acid (T