Error rates and powers in genome-scale RNAi screens

Xiaohua Douglas Zhang, Shane D. Marine, Marc Ferrer

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

10 Scopus citations

Abstract

For hit selection in genome-scale RNAi research, we do not want to miss small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) with large effects; meanwhile, we do not want to include siRNAs with small or no effects in the list of selected hits. There is a strong need to control both the false-negative rate (FNR), in which the siRNAs with large effects are not selected as hits, and the restricted false-positive rate (RFPR), in which the siRNAs with no or small effects are selected as hits. An error control method based on strictly standardized mean difference (SSMD) has been proposed to maintain a flexible and balanced control of FNR and RFPR. In this article, the authors illustrate how to maintain a balanced control of both FNR and RFPR using the plot of error rate versus SSMD as well as how to keep high powers using the plot of power versus SSMD in RNAi high-throughput screening experiments. There are relationships among FNR, RFPR, Type I and II errors, and power. Understanding the differences and links among these concepts is essential for people to use statistical terminology correctly and effectively for data analysis in genome-scale RNAi screens. Here the authors explore these differences and links.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)230-238
Number of pages9
JournalJournal of Biomolecular Screening
Volume14
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 2009

Keywords

  • False-negative rate
  • Power
  • Restricted false-positive rate
  • Strictly standardized mean difference
  • Type I error
  • Type II error

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Analytical Chemistry
  • Biotechnology
  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Medicine
  • Pharmacology
  • Drug Discovery

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