Converting qPCR Results To Resemble Culture Method Results

By Michael Thomas

Familiarity with the results is important

Since many operators like to have results reported in a format that is familiar to them, it is possible to convert the gene copies/mL obtained from a qPCR reaction into an approximate cells/mL which is a calculation based on the average amount of gene copies per organism determined from literature investigations.

For LuminUltra qPCR assays like Legionella spp. or Total E. Coli which have specific genetically-defined targets, it is easy to convert from gene copies/mL to cells/mL because all the species covered are from the same genus, and are genetically similar. We can say with high confidence that the average Legionella bacteria contains 1 gene copy per organism, primarily because the bacteria are well researched and reported upon in scientific literature.