#46 — If you are performing quantitative PCR (qPCR), you must understand what a Ct value is. In this episode of Mentors at Your Benchside, we'll take you through its critical role in qPCR, its various names, how to calculate it and what it means when it all seems to go a bit wrong.

Visit the original article for a helpful figure that explains Ct values. [1] Plus, visit our related articles to discover important considerations for determining qPCR efficiency, [2] learn how to analyze your qPCR data using double delta Ct analysis, [3] and get advice on housekeeping genes. [4]

Don't forget to brush up on the MIQE guidelines. [5]

Resources:
1. What Is a Cq (Ct) Value? Available at: https://bitesizebio.com/24581/what-is-a-ct-value/
2. Important Considerations for Determining qPCR Efficiency. Available at: https://bitesizebio.com/3177/determining-qpcr-efficiency/
3. 4 Easy Steps to Analyze Your qPCR Data Using Double Delta Ct Analysis. Available at: https://bitesizebio.com/24894/4-easy-steps-to-analyze-your-qpcr-data-using-double-delta-ct-analysis/
4. Keeping On Top of Housekeeping Genes. Available at: https://bitesizebio.com/23467/keeping-on-top-of-housekeeping-genes/
5. The MIQE guidelines: minimum information for publication of quantitative real-time PCR experiments. Available at https://doi.org/10.1373/clinchem.2008.112797