Use of RNA mimics as extraction controls. PRRSV RT-PCR was performed with serial dilutions of in vitro-transcribed RNA either before (lanes 2, 4, and 6) or after (lanes 1, 3, and 5) column extraction of samples containing 50 (lanes 1 and 2), 500 (lanes 3 and 4), or 5,000 (lanes 5 and 6) RNA molecules per μl. Lanes 7 and 8, results for negative (no template) and positive (PRRSV RNA) control reactions, respectively; lane M, DNA molecular size markers.