Microarray Analysis Quality Assurance

Geneservice operate under an on-going Quality Assurance Program that ensures precision, accuracy and reliability of all of the services offered to customers. The best practices have been documented and are, where appropriate, consistent with:

• all Good Laboratory Practices (GLP's);
• all applicable safety, environmental and legal regulations and guidelines;
  
• the best practices of other industry leaders.

The QA Program covers all areas from sample log-in, through sample analysis to final data reporting. Major components and features of the QA Program include:

Data Handling

The Project Scientists performing the Affymetrix GeneChip® Expression Analysis enter all data in a secure and dedicated database which maintains confidentiality and anonymity during testing. The database is used to:

• log incoming samples;
  
• assign accession numbers to samples;
  
• determine testing or procedures;
  
• track all results;
  
• transcribe results to report format.

Standard Operating Procedures (SOP)

All procedures used at the Laboratory are documented in SOPs to help deliver the highest possible quality of service to our customers on every project.

Laboratory Setup

Affymetrix Expression Analysis Assay uses RNA as a starting material. Hence, it was essential to develop a program for maintaining an RNase-free Lab that involves:

• routine decontamination of lab bench tops, pipettes and tube racks with RNaseZap®;
  
• use of certified RNase-free pipette tips; microcentrifuge tubes, buffers and reagents;
  
• using Qbiogene' template Tamer™ PCR Workstation for setting up reactions.
  

Equipment Maintenance

Instruments are regularly cleaned as recommended by the manufacture and calibrated where appropriate by contract-service. Documentation of all calibration and standardization activities is maintained throughout the laboratory.

Quality Control (QC) Measures

Throughout the Expression Analysis of your samples, our experienced Project Scientists perform extensive QC checks to assure you that the data you receive is accurate and precise.