Patent ID: 8005625

Claim:
A method for analyzing a nucleic acid amplification reaction, the method comprising the steps of: (a) contacting a nucleic acid sample with at least one amplification agent; (b) amplifying at least a portion of the target nucleic acid in the sample; (c) measuring signals obtained at various points in the amplification, the signal being proportional to the amount of the target nucleic acid present; (d) determining an efficiency related transform of the amplification reaction; (e) determining an efficiency related value that is the maximum magnitude of the efficiency related transform; (f) establishing a range for pairs of data comprising an efficiency related value and a reaction point value; (g) determining whether an efficiency related value occurring at any particular reaction point value falls within the range established in step (f); and (h) if the efficiency related value is not within the range of values established for the efficiency related value corresponding to a particular reaction point value, then the reaction is deemed potentially subject to error.