Evaluation of ABRF-96SEQ: A sequence assignment exercise

Publisher Summary The ability of most core laboratories to interpret data correctly from a homogenous and relatively high-level sample that has no amino acids that are difficult to identify, is of a finite length, and has clear PTH chromatograms is excellent. However, even under ideal conditions there usually remain a few positive incorrect calls that should have been reported as tentative. The overall accuracy decreases when the sample is low-level and complex. Association of Biomolecular Resource Facilities (ABRF)-96SEQ was designed to try to ascertain the source of these problems and to provide individual laboratories with a means of self-evaluation. ABRF-96SEQ offered a unique opportunity for participating laboratories ability to interpret the same data. Generally, the committee feels that there are more positive incorrect calls than there should have been, and urges all respondents that perform sequence analysis to be cautious in assigning positive correct calls, particularly at the end of the sequence. A comparative summary of the current study with previous ABRF-SEQ samples is shown in this chapter. It is evident that ABRF-96SEQA has virtually a 100% accuracy of positive calls compared with other studies indicating that a straightforward homogenous sample with no difficult amino acids, clear chromatography, and a finite ending poses no problems for data interpretation.