Detection Assays

A variety of detection assays may be used to assess cell viability, mRNA levels, and associated phenotypes during the optimization and implementation of a siRNA experiment.

• mRNA (qPCR, Northern-Blot, branched-DNA assay)
• Protein (Western-Blot, ELISA, Microscopy)
• Phenotypic response (proliferation, apoptosis, toxicity,...)

Establishing robust assays for RNAi is important for meaningful results. Moreover, multiparametric measurements through the use of several complementary phenotypic assays are particularly helpful in interpreting biological results and performing hit stratification (Echeverri et al., 2006, Nat Methods 3(10):777-9).