To facilitate the evaluation of high throughput mutation detection strategies that are currently being introduced into UKGTN labs we have developed a generic set of reference reagents which can be used to assess both new and existing mutation detection techniques. Plasmid controls have been produced which can be used to determine the sensitivity and specificity of these techniques by analysing factors that are of general importance for all technologies including: the type of base substitution, the GC content of the amplicon and the location of the mutation in the fragment.

The controls can be used to amplify fragments ranging from 400-450bp with an average GC content of 20%, 40%, 60% and 80%. The wild type sequence has been mutated to produce every possible heteroduplex (8 in total) at three positions within the amplicon as shown in figure 1.

A field trial of the reagents was carried out in 2006 and the report can be found here.

The plasmids are currently available to UKGTN laboratories free of charge on request. Enquiries from other centres or commercial organisations should be made to Dr Helen White (hew@soton.ac.uk).