Fundamental approaches to data analysis and interpretation

There are three fundamental aspects in the analysis of HTS data (i) determining which compounds in a run or group of runs are active (ii) determining the potencies, efficacies, selectivities and mechanism of the actives and (iii) quality control. 

Those screeners uncomfortable selecting actives without reference to explicit plate controls would define activity relative to the activity of the solvent control and/or known reference compounds on each plate. Most screeners will format their libraries such that one or two columns on the plate contain the positive and negative controls. The latter are the solvent controls and the activity criterion could be determined as a fold induction or percentage inhibition relative to the solvent controls. By the inclusion of reference samples with known biological activity, one can also calculate the relative efficacy for each hit. Since the controls will be variable from plate to plate, the percentage control and efficacy values should be calculated on a plate-by-plate basis by the software, rather than as a single large batch. Evaluation of the precision and accuracy of the bioassay 

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