The T-test and clinical relevance. Is your beta error showing.
The t-test, as usually performed in the clinical laboratory for methods comparisons, does not consider the clinical relevance of the difference between the methods. Two procedures are presented which incorporate medical criteria into the t-test thereby making it a more relevant statistical tool. This is done by defining beta error in addition to alpha error. Since a positive action; i.e., adoption of the "test" methods, is taken when there is no difference between the "test" and reference methods, commission of a beta error has a potentially damaging effect. Therefore, evaluation of beta error is an appropriate part of methods comparison in the clinical laboratory.