= Positive control
A <positive control> is a comparison expected to produce a known response under the measurement or experimental system. It checks that the system can detect the effect it is meant to <measure>. For a generic assay, a reference sample known to contain the target should yield a signal; failure makes a negative test-sample result difficult to interpret. A <positive control> and a <negative control> answer complementary questions: whether the system can respond, and whether a response appears without the target cause.https://archives.fbi.gov/archives/about-us/lab/forensic-science-communications/fsc/april2005/standards/2005_04_standards01.htm[Standards and Guidelines, quality-control definitions]{ref}
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