Response determination criteria for ELISPOT: toward a standard that can be applied across laboratories

ELISPOT assay readout is often dichomized as positive or negative responses according to prespecified criteria. However, these criteria can vary widely across institutions. The adoption of a common response criterion is a key step toward cross-laboratory comparability. This chapter describes the two main approaches to response determination, identifying the strengths and limitations of each. Nonparametric statistical tests and consideration of data quality are recommended and instructions provided for their ready implementation by nonstatisticians and statisticians alike.