US 7,565,250 B2
Method and system for analyzing reactions using an information system
Eric B. Shain, Glencoe, Ill. (US); John M. Clemens, Wadsworth, Ill. (US); Tzyy-Wen Jeng, Vernon Hills, Ill. (US); and George J. Schneider, Barrington, Ill. (US)
Assigned to Abbott Laboratories Inc., Abbott Park, Ill. (US)
Filed on Nov. 17, 2004, as Appl. No. 10/991,025.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/527389, filed on Dec. 06, 2003.
Prior Publication US 2005/0130211 A1, Jun. 16, 2005
Int. Cl. G06F 19/00 (2006.01); C12P 19/34 (2006.01); C12Q 1/68 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 702—19  [702/127; 435/6; 435/91.2] 12 Claims
 
1. A method of determining whether a test sample contains a target nucleic acid, the method comprising:
(a) contacting the test sample with at least one amplification agent for an amplification reaction;
(b) measuring signals obtained at various points in the amplification reaction, the signals being proportional to the amount of the target nucleic acid present;
(c) determining an efficiency related transform of the amplification reaction;
(d) determining an efficiency related value that is the maximum magnitude of the efficiency related transform; and
(e) determining that the test sample contains a target nucleic acid if the efficiency related value for the amplification reaction exceeds a criterion value wherein, the criterion value is determined by (1) amplifying a plurality of samples to determine the efficiency related values and (2) selecting a value that separates the efficiency related values of negative samples from the efficiency related values of positive samples.