On the uncertainty in sequential hypothesis testing

We consider the problem of sequential hypothesis testing when the exact pdfs are not known but instead a set of iid samples are used to describe the hypotheses. We modify the classical test by introducing a likelihood ratio interval which accommodates the uncertainty in the pdfs. The test finishes when the whole likelihood ratio interval crosses one of the thresholds and reduces to the classical test as the number of samples to describe the hypotheses tend to infinity. We illustrate the performance of this test in a medical image application related to tuberculosis diagnosis. We show in this example how the test confidence level can be accurately determined.

• Type: Conference
• Year: 2008
• Where: ISBI
• Authors: Antonio Artés-Rodríguez, Fernando Pérez-Cruz, Ramón Fernández-Lorenzana, Ricardo Santiago-Mozos
• Keywords: ISBI 2008, Likelihood Ratio Interval, Medical Imaging, Ratio Interval Crosses, Test Confidence Level