The effect of variance function estimation on nonlinear calibration inference in immunoassay data

Biometrics. 1996 Mar;52(1):158-75.

Abstract

Often with data from immunoassays, the concentration-response relationship is nonlinear and intra-assay response variance is heterogeneous. Estimation of the standard curve is usually based on a nonlinear heteroscedastic regression model for concentration-response, where variance is modeled as a function of mean response and additional variance parameters. This paper discusses calibration inference for immunoassay data which exhibit this nonlinear heteroscedastic mean-variance relationship. An assessment of the effect of variance function estimation in three types of approximate large-sample confidence intervals for unknown concentrations is given by theoretical and empirical investigation and application to two examples. A major finding is that the accuracy of such calibration intervals depends critically on the nature of response variance and the quality with which variance parameters are estimated.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Algorithms
  • Analysis of Variance
  • Animals
  • Biometry / methods*
  • Computer Simulation
  • Data Interpretation, Statistical
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / standards
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / statistics & numerical data
  • Humans
  • Immunoassay / standards
  • Immunoassay / statistics & numerical data*
  • Monte Carlo Method
  • Nonlinear Dynamics
  • Pharmaceutical Preparations / analysis
  • Pharmaceutical Preparations / standards
  • Radioimmunoassay / standards
  • Radioimmunoassay / statistics & numerical data
  • Recombinant Proteins / analysis
  • Reference Standards
  • Relaxin / analysis
  • Swine

Substances

  • Pharmaceutical Preparations
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Relaxin