Cited by 16,314Molecular Biology Techniques and ApplicationsMeta-analysis and systematic reviewsAcademic Writing and Publishing

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 92 of the 92 references it cites were found in a registry or an index; 19 of the 46 sources its claims cite were checked for support.

The MIQE Guidelines: Minimum Information for Publication of Quantitative Real-Time PCR Experiments

Open access

Abstract

Background: Currently, a lack of consensus exists on how best to perform and interpret quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) experiments. The problem is exacerbated by a lack of sufficient experimental detail in many publications, which impedes a reader’s ability to evaluate critically the quality of the results presented or to repeat the experiments. Content: The Minimum Information for Publication of Quantitative Real-Time PCR Experiments (MIQE) guidelines target the reliability of results to help ensure the integrity of the scientific literature, promote consistency between laboratories, and increase experimental transparency. MIQE is a set of guidelines that describe the minimum information necessary for evaluating qPCR experiments. Included is a checklist to accompany the initial submission of a manuscript to the publisher. By providing all relevant experimental conditions and assay characteristics, reviewers can assess the validity of the protocols used. Full disclosure of all reagents, sequences, and analysis methods is necessary to enable other investigators to reproduce results. MIQE details should be published either in abbreviated form or as an online supplement. Summary: Following these guidelines will encourage better experimental practice, allowing more reliable and unequivocal interpretation of qPCR results.

Overview

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1373/clinchem.2008.112797

Cites

92 of 92 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Nothing to recompute.

Verification

Claims the paper makes

19 of 46 cited sources checked · 13 supported · 0 flagged · accuracy not yet measured

Show all 37 claims

  • It may state two separate claims as one. 12
  • Probably not a substantial claim. 6
17 of 17
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Many qPCR publications lack enough experimental detail for readers to assess or repeat the work.

    “The problem is exacerbated by a lack of sufficient experimental detail in many publications, which impedes a reader's ability to evaluate critically the quality of the results presented or to repeat the experiments.”
    “The problem is exacerbated by the lack of information that characterizes most reports of studies that have used this technology, with many publications not providing sufficient experimental detail to permit the reader to critically evaluate the quality of the results presented or to repeat the experiments.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Presence of an mRNA does not establish that it is translated into protein or functional protein.

    “detection of the presence of an mRNA provides no information on whether that mRNA will be translated into a protein or, indeed, whether a functional protein is translated at all.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Most quantitative RNA measurements are relative, not absolute.

    “most quantitative RNA data are not absolute, but relative.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    A large part of the variance in reported RT-qPCR expression values comes from data-processing algorithm corrections rather than solely from protocol variation.

    “Much of the variance in reported expression values produced in RT-qPCR experiments is not simply due to variation in experimental protocols but is caused by corrections applied by various dataprocessing algorithms, each of which makes its own assumptions about the data.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    PCR efficiency is highly dependent on the primers used.

    “PCR efficiency is highly dependent on the primers used”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The structure of the nucleic acid target has a substantial impact on the efficiency of reverse transcription and PCR.

    “The structure of the nucleic acid target (e.g., stem and loop secondary RNA structure) has a substantial impact on the efficiency of reverse transcription and the PCR.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    A marked presence of primer dimers produces lower PCR efficiency in probe-based assays and may generate false positives in SYBR Green I assays.

    “A marked presence of primer dimers produces a lower PCR efficiency in probe-based assays and may generate false positives in assays based on SYBR Green I.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    No-template controls detect PCR contamination when probes are used and can distinguish unintended amplification products from intended products in SYBR Green I reactions.

    “NTCs detect PCR contamination when probes are used and can also distinguish unintended amplification products (e.g., primer dimers) from the intended PCR products in SYBR Green I reactions.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Robust and precise qPCR assays are usually correlated with high PCR efficiency.

    “Robust and precise qPCR assays are usually correlated with high PCR efficiency.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    PCR efficiency is particularly important when reporting mRNA concentrations for target genes relative to reference genes.

    “PCR efficiency is particularly important when reporting mRNA concentrations for target genes relative to those of reference genes.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    A260/A280 measurement is not sufficient for quantitative nucleic acid analysis, especially when measuring minor differences (<10-fold) in cellular mRNA concentrations.

    “such measurement is not sufficient if the nucleic acid is to be used for quantitative analysis, especially when the aim is to measure minor differences (Ͻ10-fold) in cellular mRNA concentrations.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    RNA integrity numbers relate to rRNA quality and cannot be expected to be an absolute measure of RNA quality.

    “these numbers relate to rRNA quality and cannot be expected to be an absolute measure of quality.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The small amplicon size of qPCR assays helps minimize assay-related problems.

    “The small amplicon size of qPCR assays helps to minimize assay-related problems”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Lower limits of quantification are usually poorly defined.

    “Because lower limits of quantification are usually poorly defined, the variation at the lowest concentration claimed to be within the linear interval should be determined.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Low-copy PCRs are stochastically limited.

    “Low-copy PCRs are stochastically limited, and LODs of Ͻ3 copies per PCR are not possible.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Precision in qPCR typically varies with concentration, decreasing with copy number.

    “Precision in qPCR typically varies with concentration, decreasing with the copy number.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Use of reference genes as internal controls is the most common method for normalizing cellular mRNA data.

    “The use of reference genes as internal controls is the most common method for normalizing cellular mRNA data”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The inherent variability of biological systems may rival or exceed experimental differences between groups.

    “The inherent variability of biological systems may rival or exceed experimental differences between groups.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Many factors contribute to experimental variation and influence the number of biological replicates necessary to achieve a given statistical power.

    “Many factors contribute to experimental variation and influence the number of biological replicates necessary to achieve a given statistical power.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The main difference between qPCR and conventional PCR is the expectation that qPCR can quantify target nucleic acids accurately.

    “The main difference between qPCR and conventional (legacy) PCR assays is the expectation of the former's potential to quantify target nucleic acids accurately.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The concern about multiplexing accuracy is particularly important when targets of appreciably lower abundance are coamplified with highly abundant targets.

    “This concern is of particular importance when targets of appreciably lower abundance are coamplified with highly abundant targets.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Reference gene utility must be experimentally validated for particular tissues or cell types and specific experimental designs.

    “their utility must be experimentally validated for particular tissues or cell types and specific experimental designs”
22 of 22

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Cited works that were retracted

Works this paper cites that were later retracted, from the retraction notices publishers deposit. Major when the notice came out before this paper was published.

  • Cites a retracted work: 10.1126/science.1117768

    Major

    The cited work was retracted on 2007-04-20 (notice 10.1126/science.316.5823.367b), before this paper was published (2009-04-01). Its authors could have known.

    Cited work 10.1126/science.1117768 · retracted 2007-04-20 · notice 10.1126/science.316.5823.367b · this paper published 2009-04-01

  • Cites a retracted work: 10.1126/science.316.5823.367b

    Info

    The cited work was retracted; the date of the notice is not on record.

    Cited work 10.1126/science.316.5823.367b · retraction date not known · this paper published 2009-04-01

2 of 2

Citations

Cites

2 retracted

Flagged first, then by citations

Show all 92 references

Research works printed but not linked: 8

  1. 1993, Biotechnology (N Y), 11, 1026
  2. 2004, J Biomol Tech, 15, 155
  3. 2009, Forthcoming
  4. 2007, Science, 316, 367
  5. 2007, Nat Biotechnol, 25, 846
  6. 2008, Carcinogenesis, 29, 579
  7. 2006, Dev Biol (Basel), 126, 79
  8. 2005, Clin Chem Lab Med, 43, 542

Cited by

Sorted by citations

Items 701–800 of 16,314

Metadata

Authors
Bustin, S. A., Benes, V., Garson, J. A., Hellemans, J., Huggett, J., Kubista, M., Mueller, R., Nolan, T., Pfaffl, M. W., Shipley, G. L., Vandesompele, J., & Wittwer, C. T.
Affiliations
  • Queen Mary University of London (GB)
  • Genomics Core Facility, EMBL Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
  • University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (GB)
  • Ghent University Hospital (BE)
  • University College London (GB)
  • Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Biotechnology (CZ)
  • Sequenom (United States) (US)
  • Sigma–Aldrich, Haverhill, UK
  • Technical University of Munich (DE)
  • The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (US)
  • University of Utah (US)
Corresponding author
Bustin, Stephen A
Venue
Clinical Chemistry
Published
2009-04-01
Volume
55
Issue
4
Pages
611-622
ISSN
  • 0009-9147 (ISSN-L)
  • 1530-8561
OpenAlex
W2168420558
Cited by
16,303
References
92
Citations by year
2026: 1198 · 2025: 1087 · 2024: 1107 · 2023: 1118 · 2022: 1157 · 2021: 1339 · 2020: 1264 · 2019: 1139 · 2018: 1082 · 2017: 1067 · 2016: 991 · 2015: 944 · 2014: 832 · 2013: 704 · 2012: 556
FWCI
168.11
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Clinical Chemistry (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Ghent University Academic Bibliography (Ghent University) (submittedVersion)
  • UCL Discovery (University College London) (submittedVersion)
  • mediaTUM – the media and publications repository of the Technical University Munich (Technical University Munich) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
Funders
  • Bowel and Cancer Research (1119105)
  • ARUP Institute for Clinical and Experimental Pathology
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology Techniques and Applications
  • Social Sciences › Decision Sciences › Statistics, Probability and Uncertainty › Meta-analysis and systematic reviews
  • Social Sciences › Library and Information Sciences › Academic Writing and Publishing
Keywords
MIQE guidelines, quantitative real-time PCR, reporting guidelines, reproducibility, scientific integrity
MeSH terms
Humans, Terminology as Topic, Nucleic Acids, Publishing, Time Factors, Polymerase Chain Reaction, Molecular Diagnostic Techniques, Reverse Transcription

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