BLAST-QC: automated analysis of BLAST results.

Background: The Basic Local Alignment Search Tool (BLAST) from NCBI is the preferred utility for sequence alignment and identification for bioinformatics and genomics research. Among researchers using NCBI's BLAST software, it is well known that analyzing the results of a large BLAST search can be tedious and time-consuming. Furthermore, with the recent discussions over the effects of parameters such as '-max_target_seqs' on the BLAST heuristic search process, the use of these search options are questionable.