THE ERRORS OF BIOLOGICAL ASSAY

Abstract

Burn discusses the principles which should govern biological assay methods and their interpretation. He emphasizes the importance of a standard; the evaluation of animal variation; that the standard of reference chosen must owe its activity to the active principle for which the preparation is assayed; that the method used should measure the important therapeutic constituent; and that an acceptable standard of reference should be employed. The article points out the faults of bioassay methods and suggests improvements especially along lines that will take into account the variable response of animals of the same species. He suggests methods that might be employed in interpreting results, so that the variation of each individual could be related to an average normal.