Pre-processing and quality control of the data is performed using the Olink® NPX Signature software – see the NPX Signature page for more information.
The built-in quality control (QC) allows us to have control over the technical performance of the assays as well as the samples, making sure that we can deliver reliable, high quality data. The basis of the QC depends on four internal controls that are spiked into all samples and external controls in every Olink Analysis.
Please find more information regarding our internal controls for Target 48/Focus/Flex
in the FAQ, Are internal controls included in the Olink® Target 48 panels, and if so what are they?
Please find more information regarding our internal controls for Target 96 in the FAQ, Are internal controls included in the Olink® Target 96 panels, and if so what are they?
Run evaluation
Standard deviations for Incubation Control 1, Incubation Control 2 and the Detection Control are calculated and should be below the predetermined threshold: 0.2 NPX, for the entire 96-well sample plate.
Sample evaluation
A sample plate median value is calculated for the Incubation Control 2 and the Detection Control, respectively. For each sample, the result for each of these internal controls is allowed to deviate no more than ±0.3NPX from the plate median. If any or both of the internal controls exceed the 0.3 NPX limit, the sample will fail the QC. If more than 1/6th of the samples fail the QC, the run is deemed unreliable. The reason for the issues will then be evaluated and (if applicable) samples will be rerun.