Testing equivalence between two laboratories or two methods using paired-sample analysis and interval hypothesis testing

Anal Bioanal Chem. 2006 Jul;385(5):975-81. doi: 10.1007/s00216-006-0417-2. Epub 2006 Jun 7.

Abstract

A modified interval hypothesis testing procedure based on paired-sample analysis is described, as well as its application in testing equivalence between two bioanalytical laboratories or two methods. This testing procedure has the advantage of reducing the risk of wrongly concluding equivalence when in fact two laboratories or two methods are not equivalent. The advantage of using paired-sample analysis is that the test is less confounded by the intersample variability than unpaired-sample analysis when incurred biological samples with a wide range of concentrations are included in the experiments. Practical aspects including experimental design, sample size calculation and power estimation are also discussed through examples.

MeSH terms

  • Laboratories
  • Research Design*