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On the estimation of the most probable number in a serial dilution experiment |
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| Authors: | Ibrahim A. Salama Gary G. Koch Dennis H. Tolley |
| Affiliation: | 1. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill , Chapel Hill, NC, 27514;2. Texas A &3. M University , College Station, Texas, 77843 |
| Abstract: | The purpose of this paper is to present some alternative estimates for the 'most probable number' of bacteria in a serial dilution experiment. These estimates are directed to be less biased than the ordinary maximum likelihood estimate. A numerical example illustrates the extent to which the variance and the mean square error of these estimates are generally less than those corresponding to the maximum likelihood estimate. |
| Keywords: | maximum likelihood estimation the most probable number (mpn) serial dilution experiment bias and bias reduction |