Which controls are typically included in PCR testing?

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In PCR testing, controls are used to confirm that the assay is working properly and that the results are reliable. A positive control shows that the reaction can detect the target if it is present, proving the assay conditions and reagents are capable of amplification. A negative control contains no template and serves to reveal any contamination or non-specific amplification; if this control lights up, it signals a problem with the workflow. An internal control is added to each sample to verify that the reaction went through correctly and to detect inhibition or issues with sample quality; if the internal control fails to amplify, a negative result for the target may not be trustworthy.

Because each type of control checks a separate potential failure mode, including all three—positive, negative, and internal—gives the most trustworthy validation of PCR results. If any one of them is missing, certain problems could go undetected, leading to false reassurance or erroneous conclusions about the assay outcome.