臨床和實驗室標準研究院(CLSI, Wayne, PA, USA)指南提供了使用外源性RNA作為參照，主要用于基因芯片和定量實時PCR(QRT-PCR)為基礎的基因表達。

外源性RNA參照指與需要分析檢測樣本中RNA不同的RNA。外援性RNA參照在例如逆轉錄和標記等酶促反應之前加入。該實驗方案確保實驗室、基因芯片和試劑生產商能夠評估這些檢測的性能。實驗方案支持在基因芯片和QRT-PCR中使用外源性RNA。
 
Guidelines for Use of External RNA Controls
 
The Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI, Wayne, PA, USA) guidelines provide protocols for the use of external RNA controls in microarray and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (QRT-PCR)-based gene expression.

External RNA controls refer to RNA species that are distinct from the RNAs in the sample that is to be analyzed. The external RNA controls are added prior to enzymatic manipulations, such as reverse transcription and labeling. The protocols enable laboratory, microarray, and reagent manufacturers to assess the performance of these expression assays. They support the use of external RNA controls in microarray and QRT-PCR-based gene expression experiments.