Assay specificity, dynamic range, and thresholds for gain and amplification were evaluated in MNA neuroblastoma cell lines [Kelly, BE2C, IMR32], a non-MNA neuroblastoma cell line [SK-N-SH], and non-MNA sarcoma cell lines [RH30, A673, and ES8], to demonstrate MNA levels ranging from 66–1038 in MNA-cell lines, MYCN gains of 2.9 and 3.4 copies in SK-N-SH and RH30, respectively, and normal diploid MYCN copy levels of 2.0 in A673 and ES8. This evidence concerns the gene MYCN and neuroblastoma.