Frequently Asked Questions about qPCR

This section was created to answer more commonly asked questions about qPCR. If these FAQs do not fully answer your questions please contact MI at (865) 573-8188.

Sampling:

• How much sample do I need to collect?

• How many samples should I collected to characterize a site?

• Do I need to provide more than one sample to analyze for multiple targets (organisms) from the same sampling location?

• How many Bio-Trap Samplers do I need to run qPCR and PLFA?

• Do I need to add a preservative to my samples?

Understanding Results (General):

• What does a positive or negative result mean?

• How are the results reported?

• Can numbers between different targets be compared?

• How do these numbers compare to typical culture based methods (i.e. plate counts, MPNs, etc)?

• What does the target qEBAC quantify?

Dehalococcoides Results:

• What is the difference between DHC, BAV1 R-Dase, and TCE R-Dase?

• Since DHC is present reductive dechlorination must be occurring, right?

• Are certain members of DHC more capable of degrading VC?

QA/QC:

• What are the QA/QC procedure used during this analysis?

• How are detection limits calculated?