Sensitivity of test

Cronin, J. L., and P. F. Nolan, "The Comparative Sensitivity of Test Methods for Determining Initial Exotherm Temperatures in Thermal Decompositions of Single Substances," J. Haz. Mat., 14 (1987). 

Because FDA laboratories typically use more sensitive test methods than industry, samples of oral liquids in which manufacturers report microbiological counts well within limits may be found unacceptable by the federal laboratories. This result requires upgrading the sensitivity of testing procedures. 

Obviously tests and decisions drawn from them are dependent on the estimated (calculated) parameters. It is worth mentioning that they also depend on the number, n, of measurements or replicates. In addition we know that we do not have one risk alone. Therefore we have to accept that the sensitivity of tests is determined by the proper choice of n, it increases with increasing n. It is, however, not usually possible to increase n without additional costs. On the other hand one can often say, e.g. from experience or from legal requirement which difference between two means may be tolerated and which difference must be assured. Taking into account this and both tolerable risks of wrong decisions, associated with type I and type II errors, one can compute the necessary number of replicates in advance (see textbooks on statistics or ZWANZIGER et al. [1986]) ... 

Is the sensitivity of test species associated with their geographical home ranges In other words, are sensitivities the same for... 

It may be possible to increase the sensitivity of testing considerably and thereby decrease the number of tests and the corresponding cost by using repair-deficient mutant strains. Several laboratories are engaged in validating these systems for the sex-linked recessive-lethal test. 

Known species sensitivities of test animal dermis compared to that of the human skin from earlier experience Application of different concentrations of test agent and the need for comparable control sites where the dermis is similar Application of the test agent to intact and abraded dermis, the latter having slight damage to the stratum corneum (dead cell layer) by mechanical means to mimic the loss of the protective barrier through abrasions and cuts... 

The reason we are struggling in this area is that the mechanisms of carcinogenesis remain obscure. We simply do not know what the biological events or risks are at low level exposures to carcinogens where most human exposure occurs, and which is beyond the sensitivity of test animal observations. Thus, for example, thresholds or no-effect levels cannot be proven or dis-proven, and we do not know which mathematical model is best, or even if any come close to reflecting the actual biological process. 

Compared to materials in general, polymers, and particularly foams, have relatively low thermal conductivity, which has to be taken into account when considering the sensitivity of test procedures. When data is required in connection with polymer processing, it is preferably obtained at processing temperatures, which can involve the polymer going into the molten state. Clearly, this places a considerable restriction on the design of measuring apparatus. 

Table 1 on toxicities is a broad-brush treatment of the toxicity data and does not consider the effects on toxicity values due to AES structure, differential sensitivity of test species within taxonomic groups or the variables of the test methods. The Dutch government surveyed the complex toxicity literature and developed rules for determining a risk-based, maximum permissible concentration (MFC) for AES in their country s surface waters. In 1995 they established the MFC at 0.4 mg/L [7]. 

LAS Toxicity. The ranges in toxicity can be explained by (a) the differential sensitivity of test species marine organisms tend to be more... 

Specific immunoassays to detect IgE antibodies in the sera of drug-allergic patients are being increasingly used to supplement patient s histories and skin tests and increasingly valued as the range and sensitivities of tests increase. In its simplest form, protein-coupled or free drug is covalently linked to a solid phase (sometimes via a spacer arm) the... 

Research conducted by EPA subsequent to the publication of the 2006 Proposal confirms that the sensitivity of test kits could be adjusted for paint testing so that the results from the kits reliably correspond to one of the two federal standards... 

As far as training set is concerned, the reported values highlight an optimal sensitivity of the model, since all samples coming from Emifia Romagna are correctly classified. On the other side, sensitivity of test set is not sufficient since only the 53% of Emilia Romagna samples are well classified. 

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