qPCR and RT-qPCR are powerful enabling technologies that impel the advances made in our understanding of basic biological and disease processes as well as underpin the field of molecular diagnostics. However, the combination of ease of use and lack of rigorous standards of practice has resulted in widespread misinterpretation of data and consequent publication of erroneous conclusions.
The RNA quality issue highlighted in this article is just one example of the many crucial parameters that must be
addressed by guidelines that shift the focus of concern from questions regarding the technological relevance underlying
a publication’s conclusion to the actual biological or diagnostic issues being addressed. MIQE and RDML have initiated
a dialogue in the research community that should result in guidelines that promote absolute transparency of experiments,
high confidence in results, and valid conclusions that continue to advance our understanding
