Semiparametric regression models for a right-skewed outcome subject to pooling.

ABSTRACT: Pooling specimens prior to performing laboratory assays has various benefits. Pooling can help to reduce cost, preserve irreplaceable specimens, meet minimal volume requirements for certain lab tests, and even reduce information loss when a limit of detection is present. Regardless of the motivation for pooling, appropriate analytical techniques must be applied in order to obtain valid inference from composite specimens. When biomarkers are treated as the outcome in a regression model, techniques applicable to individually measured specimens may not be valid when measurements are taken from pooled specimens, particularly when the biomarker is positive and right skewed. In this paper, we propose a novel semiparametric estimation method based on an adaptation of the quasi-likelihood approach

SUBMITTER: Mitchell EM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4371765 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature