Maybe by explaining the steps of procedure, the issue will be clearer:
- We buy cells infected with desired mycoplasma strains.
- melting
- counting (≥13x10^6)
- Extraction
- Measurement of CT genes extracted from prepared standards (usually at this stage, CTs show between 28 and 31) → allowed to be used
- Approved for use as a standard (in the measurement of mycoplasma contamination of cell cultures)
- Storage in the freezer -20
- My pipetting order is also clear: (two wells)
A1, A2 = PK
B1,B2 = Standard 1 (M. orale)
C1,C2 = Standard 2 (M. pneumoniae)
D1,D2 = Standard 3 (M. fermentans)
E1,E2 = NK
F1,F2 = NTC
Correct results are obtained from wells A1, A2, E1,E2, F1,F2.
Both samples of a standard are pipetted from a same microtube. (for example: microtube A containing 25 ml M. orale extracted gene, which is pipetted 10 ml in B1 and 10 ml in B2) - Two other standards in the same way.
The strange thing is that when 2 samples are similar, how do they show 2 CTs with a big difference (sometimes one is less than 35 and the other is more than 35 and even 45).
It is even more strange that I do not find any similarity in the results. (results are not interpretable).
For example:
One of the standards is outside the acceptable range.
One of the wells is outside the acceptable range.
One of the rows is outside the acceptable range. ....
....
It seems that every time at least one of the 6 standards is out of scope and invalidates the work. As the result of the test may be valid by chance (10%).
I have 2 devices and I see this happening in both.
Thermo fisher recently recalibrated our PCR devices.
Attention: We work under GMP principles, and all equipment and products are constantly calibrated and checked.