Statistical Methods for Biological Dosimetry

Statistical methods most commonly employed at HPA for purposes of biological dosimetry by analysis of chromosomal aberrations in blood lymphocytes are reviewed and discussed together with worked examples. They serve to illustrate practical aspects of the techniques. A novel method of computation of dose and the corresponding 95% limits, taking into account both the Poisson derived uncertainties in induced aberration yield as well as uncertainties associated with the calibration curve, is presented. A very good agreement of the latter approach with a more simplified one, which merely takes into consideration the Poisson uncertainties in yield, further validates the approximations used over many years for dose assessment.