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. 1996 Mar;30(3):423-9.
doi: 10.1007/BF00212304.

Study design and sample size considerations for half-life studies

M Y Kim  1 , N Dubin
Affiliations

Study design and sample size considerations for half-life studies

M Y Kim et al. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol. 1996 Mar.

Abstract

Most studies on the half-lives of environmental contaminants have been based on small sample sizes and a limited number of repeated measurements. In this paper, we address issues of study design and sample size for half-life studies. Useful guidelines are provided for choosing the number of repeats and the optimal time interval between repeats for estimating an individual's half-life with a given level of precision, while minimizing the cost of the study. In addition, sample size and power considerations for studies comparing two population half-lives are investigated. An example is presented using data from a study on polychlorinated biphenyls and breast cancer.

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