Patent ID: 8306754

Claim:
An amplification determining method for determining whether or not an objective nucleic acid has been amplified with respect to a sample treated so as to amplify the nucleic acid, comprising the steps of: providing signal values showing molten states of the treated sample at respective temperatures; searching for a maximum value (A) in the signal values at the respective temperatures; calculating using a computer differential values of the signal values at the respective temperatures by differentiation of successive signal values; calculating second-order differential values of the differential values calculated in the above step by differentiation of successive differential values; calculating a maximum difference (B) among the second-order differential values by selecting a maximum second-order differential value (D max ′) and a minimum second-order differential value (D min ′) from the second-order differential values in a predetermined temperature range including a Tm value of the objective nucleic acid among the second-order differential values calculated in the above step and obtaining the maximum difference (B) based on the following formula ( B )=( D max ′)−( D min ′); calculating the following formula using the maximum value (A) and the maximum difference (B); X =( B )/( A ); and determining that the objective nucleic acid has been amplified normally when X satisfies a condition [X>predetermined threshold value] and the objective nucleic acid has been amplified poorly when X satisfies a condition [X<predetermined threshold value].