Methods for fluorescence data correction

Abstract

The invention concerns (computer implemented) methods for data correction, in particular, fluorescence data, related systems, software, graphic user interfaces and the use thereof, more in particular, the invention describes a method for adjusting a part of measurements taken from a plurality of measurements, under the same time-dependent area, at different time points in which said adjustments are performed in order to obtain calculated measurements which can be compared as if they were taken at the same time point (and hence, under the same environment).

1 . Method for adjusting a subset of measurements of at least a first parameter from multiple parameters, each being subjected to the same time-dependent environment, where the measurements are taken at different time points and where the adjustments result in calculated values which can be compared with corresponding measurements of at least a second parameter, as if they were taken at the time when the corresponding measurements of the second parameter were determined, where the method includes:
 (1) determining a number of measurements, each taken at a different time, for the first parameter;   (2) determining the time points when the corresponding measurements of the second parameter were determined; and   (3) determining the calculated values representative for the first parameter, at the time points of the second parameter, based on the measurements of the first parameter wherein the measurements are fluorescence data of real time PCR experiments, and the time-dependent environment is indicated by the temperature during the PCR reaction.   
     
     
         2 . Method according to  claim 1 , wherein the calculated value for the first parameter is obtained by interpolation of the measurements of the first parameter with regard to the time points of the second parameter. 
     
     
         3 . Method for adjusting fluorescence measurements, comprising the method according to  claim 1 , followed by the method for adjusting fluorescence measurements of a sample, wherein the measurements are taken in at least two partially overlapping wavelength areas, which method includes: (1) determining the fluorescence measurements, (2) determining information indicative for the aforementioned overlap, (3) adjusting the fluorescence measurements, by using mathematical multiplication operations based on the information from (2), to reduce the influence of the aforementioned overlap. 
     
     
         4 . Method according to  claim 3 , in which the adjusting is such that no overcompensation takes place. 
     
     
         5 . Method according to  claim 1 , further comprising: determining the presence of background signals for at least one of the parameters; and correcting the adjusted measurements obtained for the aforementioned background signals. 
     
     
         6 . Method according to  claim 1 , further comprising smoothing the adjusted measurements that were obtained. 
     
     
         7 . Method for determining the presence of one or more target molecules in a sample, including: (1) performing the method of  claim 1  on measurements obtained from the sample, to achieve the calculated values, (2) determining the presence or absence of the target molecules based on the calculated value from (1). 
     
     
         8 . Method according to  claim 7 , where in (2), determining the presence or absence of the target molecules based on the calculated values from (1) is performed by calculating the maximum and including a 3-value-score for the reliability of this determination. 
     
     
         9 . Method according to  claim 7 , further including: (3) characterisation of the target molecules by performing a symmetrical analysis on the aforementioned adjusted measurements, concerning the specified maximum. 
     
     
         10 . A computer program product, working on a processor for performing one of the calculations according to the methods according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         11 . A non-volatile machine-readable storage medium that saves the computer program product of  claim 10 . 
     
     
         12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . A graphic user interface that is suitable for performing the methods according to  claim 1 .