Reagent Blank
Definition
A control without an intended specimen carried through relevant processing steps. Controls examine relevant background from devices, reagents or processing. Their selection should match the contamination pathways and stages being assessed.
- Context
- Contamination controls
For example, processing a reagent blank can reveal background introduced by reagents or preparation rather than material intentionally sampled from an exhibit.
A clean control does not rule out every earlier contamination event. A positive control finding needs investigation rather than an automatic conclusion about every exhibit.
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