LOD (Limit of Detection) Metric

What is LOD?

LOD stands for Limit of Detection, which is the lowest concentration or quantity of an analyte (the substance being measured) that can be reliably detected by a measurement method.

Why It Matters

• Data Quality: Values below LOD are not reliable
• Missing Data: Results below LOD are often reported as "not detected" or "<LOD"
• Statistical Analysis: Special methods needed to handle values below LOD

Interpretation in CMMI-DCC

When a metabolite concentration is below the LOD:
- It may be recorded as "ND" (Not Detected)
- Or as a value less than the LOD (e.g., "<0.5 uM")
- Statistical methods may impute or exclude these values

Related Terms

• Metabolomics: Measuring metabolite concentrations
• HMDB ID: Metabolite identifier