diff --git a/cg/store/crud/update.py b/cg/store/crud/update.py
index e55ee48bad..2c0c8144c2 100644
--- a/cg/store/crud/update.py
+++ b/cg/store/crud/update.py
@@ -68,7 +68,10 @@ def update_sample_reads_illumina(self, internal_id: str, sequencer_type: Sequenc
         q30_threshold: int = get_q30_threshold(sequencer_type)
 
         for sample_metric in sample_metrics:
-            if sample_metric.base_passing_q30_percent >= q30_threshold:
+            if (
+                sample_metric.base_passing_q30_percent >= q30_threshold
+                or sample.is_negative_control
+            ):
                 total_reads_for_sample += sample_metric.total_reads_in_lane
 
         sample.reads = total_reads_for_sample