Project: Traceability for biologically relevant molecules and entities

Accurate counting of biological entities such as DNA and cells is vital for the security, healthcare and food sectors, among others. Specific applications include the monitoring of tumour cells in patients, the detection of genetically modified organisms in food and the quality control of tissue engineered products. This project will use purified calibration materials and counting technologies for biological measurements to bring traceable measurement to biology. It will develop methods to characterise pure biological materials for calibration, while establishing procedures for primary reference measurements of amount of nucleic acid based on single-molecule detection and counting, using digital PCR (polymerase chain reaction). The project will also focus on monitoring for minimal residual disease, as used in the treatment of leukaemia to determine whether the therapy is successful. The results will reduce some of the most important barriers to the adoption of SI traceability for a wide range of biological measurements.

Acronym SIB54 Bio-SITrace (Reference Number: SIB54)
Duration 01/07/2013 - 30/06/2016
Project Topic Metrology
Project Results
(after finalisation)
See Website
Website visit project website
Network EMRP
Call EMRP Call 2012 - Industry, SI Broader Scope and Open Excellence

Project partner

Number Name Role Country
1 LGC Limited Coordinator United Kingdom
2 Istituto Nazionale di Ricerca Metrologica Partner Italy
3 Laboratoire national de métrologie et d'essais Partner France
4 Nacionalni Institut za Biologijo Partner Slovenia
5 Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt Partner Germany
6 Turkiye Bilimsel ve Teknolojik Arastirma Kurumu Partner Türkiye