Ohio Water Microbiology Lab
Research Topics
Internal Information
Ohio Water Science Center
USGS In Your State
USGS Water Science Centers are located in each state.
|
OWML: QA/QC
Quality Assurance/Quality Control Manual: Ohio Water Microbiology
Laboratory
Thermal Cyclers
There are two thermal cyclers used to perform the
polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The PCR is done to amplify microbial DNA
targets through a series of temperatures changes. Numerous projects use the PCR
for a variety of applications including microbial source tracking, detection
and/or quantification of enteric viruses, and detection and/or quantification of
bacterial indicators. The thermal cycler used for end-point PCR performs the PCR
to completion before the amplified DNA products can be subsequently detected
using gel electrophoresis. The thermal cycler used for real-time quantitative
PCR (qPCR) detects and quantifies the targeted DNA sequence as it is being
amplified.
End-point PCR thermal cycler
- The temperature is monitored twice a year.
- Results of the temperature QC are kept in the Master
Cycler QC logbook.
- Temperature monitoring dates are recorded in the LIMS.
qPCR thermal cycler
- Background calibration is performed monthly.
- A pure-spectra assay is done annually or as needed (if
replicate amplification curves are continually wavy or non-uniform).
- A RNase P verification run is done as needed (as a
troubleshooting measure).
- A regions of interest (ROI) plate is run as needed
(following lamp replacement or if the system is jostled).
- All quality assurance checks are recorded in the LIMS.
|