Mericon™ Quant GMO Handbook
Mericon™ Quant GMO Handbook
Mericon™ Quant GMO Handbook
* Contains target-specific primers and probes, as well as the internal control (IC).
†
Quantification Control DNA: Contains DNA of the target GMO and reference species in a
defined ratio.
‡
Contains HotStarTaq® Plus DNA Polymerase, dedicated multiplex real-time PCR buffer, and
dNTP mix (dATP, dCTP, dGTP, dTTP).
Quality Control
In accordance with QIAGEN’s ISO-certified Quality Management System, each
lot of Quant GMO Detection Assays is tested against predetermined
specifications to ensure consistent product quality.
Safety Information
When working with chemicals, always wear a suitable lab coat, disposable
gloves, and protective goggles. For more information, please consult the
appropriate material safety data sheets (MSDSs). These are available online in
convenient and compact PDF format at www.qiagen.com/Support/MSDS.aspx
where you can find, view, and print the MSDS for each QIAGEN kit and kit
component.
Principle
Detection of genetically modified organisms (GMO) by PCR is based on the
amplification of a genetic construct used in GMOs. In real-time PCR, the
amplified product is detected via target-specific fluorescent probes that bind to
the amplified product. Accumulation of PCR product results in an increased
fluorescent signal from the bound probes. Monitoring the fluorescence
intensities during the PCR run (i.e., in real time) allows the detection of the
accumulating PCR product without having to re-open the reaction tubes
afterward.
The probes of mericon PCR Assays are sequence-specific oligonucleotides with a
fluorophore and a quencher moiety attached. The fluorophore is at the 5' end
of the probe, and the quencher moiety is located at the 3' end. If the target
DNA sequence is present, the probe is cleaved by the 5'3' exonuclease activity
of HotStarTaq Plus DNA Polymerase during the extension phase of PCR. This
separates the fluorophore and the quencher moiety resulting in a detectable
fluorescence that is proportional to the amount of accumulated PCR product.
Table 4. Results from cross-reactivity experiments for the MON 810 Assay
* Ensure that instruments have been checked and calibrated according to the manufacturer’s
recommendations. Use of yellow dye to detect the internal control of the mericon PCR Assays
requires calibration on some instruments.
General precautions
The user should always pay attention to the following:
Use gloves as well as sterile pipet tips with filters.
All materials and media possibly containing DNA of the tested GMO
should be autoclaved for 20 min at 120°C.
Store and extract positive materials (specimens, positive controls, and
amplicons) separately from all other reagents, and add them to the
reaction mix in a spatially separated facility.
Thaw all components thoroughly at room temperature (15–25°C) before
starting an assay.
When thawed, mix the components (by pipetting repeatedly up and down
or by pulse vortexing), and centrifuge briefly.
Internal control
Each vial of the GMO and Reference System PCR assays contains an internal
control to monitor successful PCR reaction and to detect possible PCR inhibition.
Standard dilutions
A Standard DNA is provided with each mericon Quant GMO Kit to prepare
standard curves for the GMO and Reference System. It contains DNA of the
target GMO, as well as of the reference species. For the Quant RR Soy Kit, the
GMO:Reference ratio of the Standard DNA is1:1. For the Quant MON 810 Kit,
the GMO:Reference ratio of the Standard DNA is 1:0.57. The Standard DNA is
diluted in defined steps and dilutions measured in the relevant copy number
range for the GMO and for the reference species with both assay systems.
Standard dilutions are integrated into the PCR reaction setup (see Table 9, page
20, and Table 16, page 26).
* For information on detection channel settings for instruments not listed in Table 6, contact
QIAGEN Technical Services.
†
If the instrument is new, a dye calibration for the individual channels (e.g., VIC) of the real-
time cycler must be performed. See the manufacturer’s manual for details on calibration.
Number of Number of
GMO PCR Reference System
Component replicates PCR replicates
Standard 1 – 2
Standard 2 2 2
Standard 3 2 2
Standard 4 2 2
Standard 5 2 –
Quantification Control DNA 2 2
NTC 2 2
Sample extraction 1, dilution 1 1 1
Sample extraction 1, dilution 2 1 1
Sample extraction 2, dilution 1 1 1
Sample extraction 2, dilution 2 1 1
Procedure
1. Set up the Standard, Quantification Control, and sample reactions
according to Table 10, page 21. Keep all samples and reaction tubes
on ice during setup.
If using the Rotor-Gene Q, place the desired number of PCR tubes or strips
into the adapters of the cooling block for the Rotor-Gene Q.
2. Close the PCR tubes or strips and place them in the reaction chamber
of the thermal cycler, securing them according to the instrument
manual.
If using the Rotor-Gene Q, make sure that the locking ring is placed on top
of the rotor to prevent accidental opening of the tubes during the run.
3. Program the thermal cycler. If using the Rotor-Gene Q or Rotor-Gene
6000, use the cycling protocol in Table 11 (page 22). For all other
real-time cyclers, use the cycling protocol in Table 12 (page 22).
Note: For information on instrument detection settings for the MAX NHS
Ester dye (MAX) used to detect the internal control of mericon Assays, see
Table 6 on page 16.
4. For the Rotor-Gene Q or Rotor-Gene 6000 make sure that ‘Perform
Optimisation Before 1st Acquisition’ in the Gain Optimisation menu
is activated.
5. Start the PCR run.
6. Proceed to the protocol “Analyzing the Results” on page 29.
Table 12. Cycling protocol for real-time cyclers other than Rotor-Gene Q
or Rotor-Gene 6000
* For some instruments, the shortest annealing time possible is longer than 23 s (in the range
of 32 s). Use the shortest annealing time permitted by the instrument.
†
See Table 6 (page 16) for information on instrument-specific detection channel or filter set.
Multiplex PCR
Thermal cycler ROX dye Master Mix
Applied Biosystems models
7000, 7300, 7700, 7900HT, 10.4 μl per vial 130 μl per vial
StepOne, StepOnePlus
Applied Biosystems model 7500 5.2 μl per vial 130 μl per vial
Rotor-Gene models, Stratagene
Mx models, LightCycler 480,
ROX reference dye not necessary
SmartCycler models, Bio-Rad
instruments
Note: If the reconstituted mericon Assays will not be used entirely in one
assay run, make appropriate aliquots to avoid more than 5 freeze–thaw
cycles, and store the aliquots at 2–8°C for short-term storage (1 month) or
–20°C for long-term storage.
Table 14. Preparation of the Standard DNA dilution series for the Quant
RR Soy Kit
Procedure
1. Set-up the Standard, Quantification Control, and sample reactions
according to Table 17 or Table 18 (page 27), depending on the
thermal cycler to be used. Keep all samples and reaction tubes on ice
during setup.
Table 19. Cycling protocol for real-time cyclers using ROX reference dye
* For some instruments, the shortest annealing time possible is longer than 23 s (in the range
of 32 s). Use the shortest annealing time permitted by the instrument.
†
See Table 6 (page 16) for information on instrument-specific detection channel or filter set.
Normalized fluorescence
Cycle Cycle
Figure 1. The sample is negative for the tested GMO or genetic construct. The 3 sample
curves in the green channel (left) are at the baseline and below a preset threshold. The
corresponding curves of the internal control in the yellow channel (right) are above the
threshold, indicating that the PCR was successful.
Green channel
Normalized fluorescence
Normalized fluorescence
Yellow channel
Cycle Cycle
Figure 2. The sample is positive for the tested GMO or genetic construct. The 3 sample
curves in the green channel (left) and the corresponding curves of the internal control in the
yellow channel (right) are above a preset threshold indicating the presence of target DNA in
the sample and a successful PCR.
Normalized fluorescence
Cycle Cycle
Figure 3. The PCR is inhibited. No amplification of the three samples in the green channel
(left) or the internal control in the yellow channel (right). All curves lie along the baseline and
do not exceed a preset threshold.
Amplification of Amplification of
internal control sample Result
+ + Sample is positive
+ – Sample is negative
– – PCR failed (inhibition)
Partial inhibition of the PCR due to the presence of detectable but tolerable
concentrations of inhibitors in the samples is typically indicated by a shift of the
Internal Control to higher cycle values. As a guideline, the uninhibited Internal
Control should give a stable cycle value between 28 and 32. A cycle value
above 33 indicates inhibition.
In the event of PCR inhibition, dilute the extracted samples 1:10 with QuantiTect
Nucleic Acid Dilution Buffer or RNase-free water and repeat the test.
If the DNA template concentration in the PCR reaction is very high, a shift of the
Internal Control to lower cycle values might occur, which does not influence its
sensitivity toward PCR inhibitors or amplification of the target DNA.
Developed by: ifp Institut für Produktqualität, Teltowkanalstr. 2, 12247 Berlin, Germany. www.produktqualitaet.com
Use of this product signifies the agreement of any purchaser or user of the mericon Quant GMO Assays to the following terms:
1. The mericon Quant GMO Assays may be used solely in accordance with the mericon Quant GMO Handbook and for use with components
contained in the Kit only. QIAGEN grants no license under any of its intellectual property to use or incorporate the enclosed components of this
Kit with any components not included within this Kit except as described in the mericon Quant GMO Handbook and additional protocols
available at www.qiagen.com.
2. Other than expressly stated licenses, QIAGEN makes no warranty that this Kit and/or its use(s) do not infringe the rights of third-parties.
3. This Kit and its components are licensed for one-time use and may not be reused, refurbished, or resold.
4. QIAGEN specifically disclaims any other licenses, expressed or implied other than those expressly stated.
5. The purchaser and user of the Kit agree not to take or permit anyone else to take any steps that could lead to or facilitate any acts prohibited
above. QIAGEN may enforce the prohibitions of this Limited License Agreement in any Court, and shall recover all its investigative and Court
costs, including attorney fees, in any action to enforce this Limited License Agreement or any of its intellectual property rights relating to the Kit
and/or its components.
The purchase price of this product includes a limited, non-transferable license under some or all of US. Patents Nos. 5,210,015, 5,487,972,
5,476,774, 5,219,727, and 5,804,375 or corresponding patent claims outside the United States, owned by Roche Molecular Systems, Inc. or F.
Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, and US. Patents Nos. 5,538,848, 5,723,591, 5,876,930, 6,030,787, and 6,258,569 and corresponding patent claims
outside the United States, owned by Applera Corporation, to use only this amount of product to practice the 5' nuclease process solely in the Food
Testing Applications Field, including reporting results of purchaser’s activities for a fee or other commercial consideration and also for the
purchaser’s own internal research. No right under any other patent claims (such as apparatus or system claims in US. Patent No. 6,814,934) and no
right to use this product for any other purpose, is hereby granted expressly, by implication or by estoppel. Further information on purchasing licenses
may be obtained by contacting the Director of Licensing, Applied Biosystems, 850 Lincoln Center Drive, Foster City, California 94404, USA.
License Probe manufactured by Integrated DNA Technologies, Inc. under license from Applied Biosystems. License Probe incorporates IDT’s Iowa
Black quencher technology and is accompanied by a limited research use only license from IDT.
Hong Kong Orders 800 933 965 Fax 800 930 439 Technical 800 930 425
Ireland Orders 1800 555 049 Fax 1800 555 048 Technical 1800 555 061