Systems and methods for baseline correction using non-linear normalization

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for calibrating emission data or other information signals collected during a polymerase chain reaction (PCR), amplification reaction, assay, process, or other reaction. Calibration of multiple detectable materials can be achieved during a single cycle or run, or during a plurality of runs of the reaction. A reading from every well, container, or other support region of a sample support does not have to be taken. Interpolation can be used to determine values for emission data or other information signals that were not taken, or are unknown, using detected emission data, or other detected information signals. By calibrating the detected emission data and the interpolated data, a more accurate reading of emission data or information signal can be obtained.

1 - 10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium encoded with instructions for generating calibration information for an amplification reaction, the instructions comprising instructions for:
 processing at least one calibration material in a sample support of a thermal cycler instrument;   performing an amplification reaction on a sample in a sample support of the thermal cycler instrument;   receiving first emission data generated by the at least one calibration material during the processing of the calibration material;   receiving second emission data generated by the sample during the amplification reaction of the sample;   generating time-varying calibration information based on the received first emission data; and   correcting the received second emission data as a function of the time-varying calibration information on a real-time basis during the amplification reaction.   
     
     
         12 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one calibration material comprises at least one dye. 
     
     
         13 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one calibration material comprises at least one fluorescent dye. 
     
     
         14 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 11 , wherein the step of processing the at least one calibration material comprises performing a polymerase chain reaction, and wherein the step of performing the amplification reaction on the sample comprises performing a polymerase chain reaction. 
     
     
         15 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 11 , wherein the time-varying calibration information generated comprises at least one of a set of maximum values of the emission data, a set of minimum values of the emission data, and spectral response information derived from the first emission data. 
     
     
         16 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 11 , wherein the processing of the calibration material is performed simultaneously with the amplification reaction of the sample. 
     
     
         17 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 11 , wherein the processing of the calibration material is performed before the amplification reaction of the sample. 
     
     
         18 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 11 , wherein the time-varying calibration information comprises a set of time-varying data points corresponding to discrete cycles in the amplification reaction. 
     
     
         19 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 11 , wherein the time-varying calibration information comprises a time-varying function that applies a correction to the received second emission data on a time-varying basis in real-time during the amplification reaction. 
     
     
         20 . A system for generating calibration information, comprising:
 a processor; and   a memory encoded to:
 processing at least one calibration material in a sample support of a thermal cycler instrument; 
 performing an amplification reaction on a sample in a sample support of the thermal cycler instrument; 
 receiving first emission data generated by the at least one calibration material during the processing of the calibration material; 
 receiving second emission data generated by the sample during the amplification reaction of the sample; 
 generating time-varying calibration information based on the received first emission data; and 
 correcting the received second emission data as a function of the time-varying calibration information on a real-time basis during the amplification reaction. 
   
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the at least one calibration material comprises at least one dye. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 20 , further comprising at least one sample support for receiving the calibration material and the at least one sample. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the input module unit is configured to receive first emission data generated by at least one calibration material during a polymerase chain reaction. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the processor is configured to generate the time-varying calibration information comprising at least one of a set of maximum values of the first emission data, a set of minimum values of the first emission data, and spectral response information derived from the first emission data. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the time-varying calibration information comprises a set of time-varying data points corresponding to discrete cycles in the amplification reaction. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the time-varying calibration information comprises a time-varying function that applies a correction to the received second emission data on a time-varying basis in real-time during the amplification reaction.