What is a reagent blank/contamination control used for?

A reagent blank or contamination control is primarily utilized to monitor reagents for contamination. This ensures that any signals or results obtained during an assay are due to the sample being tested rather than impurities or contaminative substances present in the reagents themselves. When conducting molecular diagnostics, maintaining the integrity of reagents is crucial because contamination can lead to false positives, inaccurate results, and compromised data interpretation.

By using a reagent blank, technicians can evaluate the baseline levels of any non-target signals that may arise from the reagents. If there is significant signal detected from the blank, it suggests that the reagents may be contaminated, which could affect the validity of the assay results. This procedure is fundamental for quality control in laboratory practices, ensuring that the results are reliable and accurate, reflecting only the presence (or absence) of the target analyte in the sample being tested.