SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR STEP DISCONTINUITY REMOVAL IN REAL-TIME PCR FLUORESCENCE DATA

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To remove a jump discontinuity in PCR or growth data. SOLUTION: The method comprise steps of receiving a data set showing a growth process; calculating a first approximation to a curve that fits the data set by applying a non-linear regression process to a non-linear function to thereby determine parameters of the first function; calculating a second approximation to the curve that fits the data set by applying a second regression process to a second non-linear function to thereby determine parameters of the second function; determining an information coefficient for each of the first and second approximations; selecting one of the approximations based on the information coefficient; determining a confidence interval for the step discontinuity parameter of the selected approximation; and replacing, when the confidence interval does not include the value zero, a part of the data set with the selected approximation having the corresponding step discontinuity parameter set to zero. COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT