Method for monitoring nucleic acid assays using synthetic internal controls with reversed nucleotide sequences

Abstract

The present invention relates to methods and compositions that provide a positive control to identify inhibition during a signal amplification reaction. The methods and compositions of the present invention are designed to run in the same tube or assay environment as the experimental or target sample and contain a copy of the target sequence in an inverted form.

We claim:  
     
         1 . An internal control cassette for use in a polynucleotide detection assay in which a target sequence is detected, said target sequence having primer binding sites flanking an internal target sequence, said cassette comprising primer binding sites flanking an internal control sequence, wherein the internal control sequence comprises said internal target sequence in a reversed orientation.