Criteria for Judging Precision and Accuracy in Method Development and Evaluation

Abstract We describe an approach for formulating criteria that can be used to judge whether an analytical method has acceptable precision and accuracy. We derive criteria for several experiments that are commonly used in method-evaluation studies: precision or replicates, recovery, interference, and comparison of patient values between the new method and a proven method. These criteria are based on the medical usefulness of the test results, thus the acceptability of the method is judged with respect to the clinical requirements.