Surface water quality quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) technologies are expanding from a subject of research to routine environmental and public health laboratory testing. Readily available, reliable reference material is needed to interpret qPCR measurements, particularly across laboratories. Standard Reference Material® 2917 (NIST SRM® 2917) is a DNA plasmid construct that functions with multiple water quality qPCR assays allowing for estimation of total fecal pollution and identification of key fecal sources. This study investigates SRM 2917 interlaboratory performance based on repeated measures of 12 qPCR assays by 14 laboratories (n = 1008 instrument runs). Using a Bayesian approach, single-instrument run data are combined to generate assay-specific global calibration models allowing for characterization of within- and between-lab variability. Comparable data sets generated by two additional laboratories are used to assess new SRM 2917 data acceptance metrics. SRM 2917 allows for reproducible single-instrument run calibration models across laboratories, regardless of qPCR assay. In addition, global models offer multiple data acceptance metric options that future users can employ to minimize variability, improve comparability of data across laboratories, and increase confidence in qPCR measurements.

地表水质量定量聚合酶链反应 (qPCR) 技术正在从研究主题扩展到常规环境和公共卫生实验室测试。需要现成的、可靠的参考材料来解释 qPCR 测量结果，特别是在实验室中。Standard Reference Material® 2917 (NIST SRM® 2917) 是一种 DNA 质粒构建体，可与多种水质 qPCR 检测一起使用，可估计粪便污染总量并识别关键粪便来源。本研究基于 14 个实验室（n  = 1008 次仪器运行）的 12 次 qPCR 检测的重复测量，调查了 SRM 2917 实验室间性能。使用贝叶斯方法，将单仪器运行数据组合起来，生成特定于测定的全局校准模型，从而能够表征实验室内和实验室间的变异性。由另外两个实验室生成的可比较数据集用于评估新的 SRM 2917 数据接受指标。SRM 2917 允许跨实验室使用可重复的单仪器运行校准模型，无论 qPCR 检测如何。此外，全局模型提供了多种数据接受指标选项，未来用户可以使用这些选项来最大程度地减少变异性、提高实验室间数据的可比性，并增加对 qPCR 测量的信心。