News & Events

Success in molecular measurement

08 July 2010

On 24 June 2010, LGC organised a workshop on ‘Accuracy in Molecular Measurement’ to disseminate the outputs from the Project DX3 - Performance standards for early diagnostic test methods. Dissemination of the project was at the heart of the day which focused on highlighting the potential of the latest molecular techniques, methods and reference systems, as well as discussing the essential considerations needed to ensure confidence in nucleic acid quantification.

The workshop attracted instrument and measurement system developers, and public analysts, as well as delegates from National Measurement Institutes, academia, the NHS and Small to Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs). Professor Stephen Bustin from Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry Queen Mary delivered a fascinating and entertaining key note speech on improving the reliability of quantitative PCR (qPCR). This was followed by a series of presentations that considered the analysis of nucleic acids and associated measurement standardisation.

A highlight of the day was ‘Ask the Experts’, chaired by LGC’s Dr Jim Huggett, which stimulated a dynamic discussion session. Key topics included standard curves and their utilisation in qPCR experiments, the future of multiplex reactions, best practice when measuring trace quantities of nucleic acid, and applications for digital PCR. Other topics included emerging PCR technologies, such as isothermal amplification, as well as best practice in SNP analysis and high resolution melt analysis. The day culminated in a series of presentations illustrating how newer developments in molecular techniques might be used in real world applications. Exhibitors including Agilent Technologies, Bio-Rad Laboratories Ltd, Qiagen, the National Measurement System, Sigma Aldrich, and Thermo Fisher Scientific contributed to lively networking sessions.

To download the presentations, click on the links below. For further information about topics covered by the workshop, please contact the NMS helpdesk at LGC.