False biological test results

The larger the number of tested compounds, the greater is the risk of false positives for a given biological test. This occurs because each compound is evaluated separately, with a given probability that the test result is falsely positive. Hence, CombC with many compounds evaluated by HTS may give a large number of false positive compounds. 

The use of statistical tests to analyze and quantify the significance of sample data is widespread in the study of biological systems where precise physical models are not readily available. Statistical tests are used in conjunction with measured data as an aid to understanding the significance of a result. Their aid in data analysis fills a need to answer the question of whether or not the inferences drawn from the data set are probable and statistically relevant. The statistical tests go further than a mere qualitative description of relevance. They are designed to provide a quantitative number for the probability that the stated hypothesis about the data is either true or false. In addition, they allow for the assessment of whether there are enough data to make a reasonable assumption about the system. 

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