In the US FDA-led SEQC (aka MAQC-III) study, different sequencing platforms were tested across more than ten sites using well established reference RNA samples with built-in truths in order to assess the discovery and expression profiling performances of platforms and analysis pipelines (
). The entire SEQC data set comprises over 100 billion reads (10 Tb) thus providing a unique resource for thorough assessment of RNA-seq performance. Biogazelle co-authored and complemented this study by defining the first human transcriptome using well-established RT-qPCR technology. Using almost 21,000 PrimePCR qPCR assays (jointly developed by Biogazelle and Bio-Rad), the mRNA expression repertoire of the four MAQC samples was established.