Method, apparatus and computer program products for determining

Abstract

Methods for determining quantities of nucleic acid sequences in samples include the steps of amplifying a plurality of known quantities of a nucleic acid sequence in respective calibration samples and an unknown quantity of a nucleic acid sequence in a test sample, in parallel, during a time interval. These samples may be amplified using an isothermal amplification method such as Strand Displacement Amplification (SDA), or a thermal cycling amplification method such as Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), for example. Indicia of the quantities of a nucleic acid sequence being amplified in the calibration and test samples are then measured using conventional techniques, at measurement points in the time interval. Steps are then performed to determine for a first potential cutoff level, a corresponding first set of time points in the time interval at which the indicia of the quantities of a nucleic acid sequence being amplified in each of the calibration samples equal the first cutoff level. This step is then repeated for each of a number of different potential cutoff levels so that respective sets of time points in the time interval can be obtained for each potential cutoff level. According to a preferred aspect of the present invention, a step is then performed to determine, relative to a statistical criterion, which of the sets of points in the time interval better satisfies the statistical criterion against the known quantities of a nucleic acid sequence in the calibration samples. A quantity of a nucleic acid sequence in the test sample is then determined based on the set of points determined to better or best satisfy the statistical criterion. The accuracy of the determination can also be improved using a relatively large number of potential cutoff levels.