Simultaneous confidence bands for Abbott-adjusted quantal response models in benchmark analysis

Abstract

We study the use of a Scheffé-style simultaneous confidence band as applied to low-dose risk estimation with quantal response data. We consider two formulations for the dose-response risk function, an Abbott-adjusted Weibull model and an Abbott-adjusted log-logistic model. Using the simultaneous construction, we derive methods for estimating upper confidence limits on predicted extra risk and, by inverting the upper bands on risk, lower bounds on the benchmark dose, or BMD, at a specific level of ‘benchmark risk’. Monte Carlo evaluations explore the operating characteristics of the simultaneous limits.