A practical method to statistically classify devices according to their relative accuracy

Mathematical methods to statistically compare the relative accuracy of phys iological monitoring devices to reference measurements are scarce. We devel oped such a method to compare any number of devices to each other as well a s to reference values. This new statistical comparative procedure uses a co mbination of different known mathematical processes. The method allows the separation of the error of the devices into two components, the first, bein g systematic, can be easily amended, while the second, inherent to the tech nical limitations of the measuring device as well as to the physical proper ties of the explored phenomenon, cannot be corrected and will thus be used as the comparative criterion for statistics. That method, which is easy to implement should ease comparisons of the accuracy of any number of devices as well as comparison of other sets of physiological values, by giving an e asy access to statistical results.