The effects of room temperature storage time, different primers, and RNA input in the reverse transcription (RT) reaction on BCR-ABL1 and ?-glucuronidase (GUSB) cDNA yield were assessed in whole blood samples mixed with K562 cells.     ///    BCR-ABL1 per 10(3) GUSB values were significantly reduced (P = 0.004) after 48-hour storage.     ///    "BCR-ABL1 was measured relative to GUSB to control for sample loading, and each gene was measured relative to known numbers of respective internal standard molecules to control for variation in quality and quantity of reagents, thermal cycler conditions, and presence of PCR inhibitors. "    ///    "Consequently, the yield of BCR-ABL1 was higher with gene-specific RT primers at all RNA inputs tested, increasing to as much as 158-fold. "    ///    Quality control methods for optimal BCR-ABL1 clinical testing in human whole blood samples..     ///    We conclude that optimal measurement of BCR-ABL1 per 10(3) GUSB in whole blood is obtained when gene-specific primers are used in RT and samples are analyzed within 24 hours after blood collection..     ///    Gene-specific primers yielded more BCR-ABL1 cDNA than random hexamers at each RNA input. 