Multiplex Amplicon Quantification (MAQ), a fast and efficient method for the simultaneous detection of copy number alterations in neuroblastoma

Table 2 Overview of parameters important for aCGH, MLPA and MAQ

	Array CGH (44 K)	MLPA	MAQ
Number of sequences investigated per experiment	44000 DNA sequences	up to 45 DNA sequences (5 control probes)	up to 40 DNA sequences (9-10 control amplicons)
Number of reactions	1	2	3
Input DNA	150-400 ng DNA/reaction	100-200 ng DNA/reaction	50 ng DNA/reaction
Throughput	intermediate	high	very high
Experiment time	results within 72 h	results within 24 h	results within 6 h
Hands-on time	high	medium	low
Detection of numerical aberrations	+	+/-	+/-
Material	oven, array scanner, software	thermocycler and capillary electophoresis system	thermocycler and capillary electophoresis system
Consumables* (patient and reference samples included)	205 € (1 control sample included)	88 € (3 control** samples included)	66 € (2 control** samples included)

*For the price calculation we envisioned an experiment in which only 1 NB sample is screened which is reasonable as NB is a very infrequent tumor (approximately 20 new cases in Belgium every year)
**The MLPA protocol recommends to use at least 3 control samples while 2 control samples are sufficient for MAQ according to the manufacturers

ISSN: 1471-2164