Process for controlling the accuracy and precision of sensitivity assays

摘要

A method of determining the relative clinical potency of a test agent, such as a chemotherapeutic drug or radiation, on cells from an individual. A plurality of assay cell samples from the individual are treated with a different doses of the agent, and the growth of the cell samples measured. An "inhibitory value" is then calculated, which is the value of one of the dose and dose response, corresponding to a selected value of the other one. For drug testing, the inhibitory value is preferably the value of the dose which produces a dose response selected at a 90% kill. The inhibitory value can then be compared with inhibitory values for cells from a plurality of other individuals to ascertain the relative clinical potency of the test agent. A number of techniques are provided which reduce errors associated with such assays so that meaningful comparisons can be made.