Array-A-Lizer: A serial DNA microarray quality analyzer

Abstract

Background: The proliferate nature of DNA microarray results have made it necessary to implement a uniform and quick quality control of experimental results to ensure the consistency of data across multiple experiments prior to actual data analysis. Results: Array-A-Lizer is a small and convenient stand-alone tool providing the necessary initial analysis of hybridization quality of an unlimited number of microarray experiments. The experiments are analyzed for even hybridization across the slide and between fluorescent dyes in two-color experiments in spotted DNA microarrays. Conclusions: Array-A-Lizer allows the expedient determination of the quality of multiple DNA microarray experiments allowing for a rapid initial screening of results before progressing to further data analysis. Array-A-Lizer is directed towards speed and ease-of-use allowing both the expert and non-expert microarray researcher to rapidly assess the quality of multiple microarray hybridizations. Array-A-Lizer is available from the Internet as both source code and as a binary installation package. © 2004 Petri et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.