Minimum Information for Reporting on the Comet Assay (MIRCA): recommendations for describing comet assay procedures and results

Peter Møller*, Amaya Azqueta, Elisa Boutet-Robinet, Gudrun Koppen, Stefano Bonassi, Mirta Milić, Goran Gajski, Solange Costa, João Paulo Teixeira, Cristiana Costa Pereira, Maria Dusinska, Roger Godschalk, Gunnar Brunborg, Kristine B. Gutzkow, Lisa Giovannelli, Marcus S. Cooke, Elke Richling, Blanca Laffon, Vanessa Valdiglesias, Nursen BasaranCristian Del Bo’, Bojana Zegura, Matjaz Novak, Helga Stopper, Pavel Vodicka, Sona Vodenkova, Vanessa Moraes de Andrade, Monika Sramkova, Alena Gabelova, Andrew Collins, Sabine A.S. Langie

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalReviewResearchpeer-review

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Abstract

The comet assay is a widely used test for the detection of DNA damage and repair activity. However, there are interlaboratory differences in reported levels of baseline and induced damage in the same experimental systems. These differences may be attributed to protocol differences, although it is difficult to identify the relevant conditions because detailed comet assay procedures are not always published. Here, we present a Consensus Statement for the Minimum Information for Reporting Comet Assay (MIRCA) providing recommendations for describing comet assay conditions and results. These recommendations differentiate between ‘desirable’ and ‘essential’ information: ‘essential’ information refers to the precise details that are necessary to assess the quality of the experimental work, whereas ‘desirable’ information relates to technical issues that might be encountered when repeating the experiments. Adherence to MIRCA recommendations should ensure that comet assay results can be easily interpreted and independently verified by other researchers.

Original languageEnglish
JournalNature Protocols
Volume15
Pages (from-to)3817-3826
Number of pages10
ISSN1754-2189
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2020

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