Mona M. K. Shehata, Fatma Alza
Abstract
Owing to the inability of real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR)to distinguish between signals originating from viable cells and DNA released fromdead cells, (i.e. it can detect dead cells) a risk exists that DNA from dead cells can resultin false-positive PCR signals, so it is important to use a proper method for sterilization to maintain the accuracy of the quantitative real-time PCR assay.