Estimating with Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet

Abstract

Computer- intensive resampling / bootstrap methods are feasible when calculating reference intervals from
non-Gaussian or small reference samples. Microsoft Excel®
in version 2010 or later includes natural functions, which
lend themselves well to this purpose including recommended interpolation procedures for estimating 2.5 and 97.5
percentiles.
The purpose of this paper is to introduce the reader to resampling estimation techniques in general and in using
Microsoft Excel®
2010 for the purpose of estimating reference intervals in particular. Parametric methods are preferable
to resampling methods when the distributions of observations in the reference samples is Gaussian or can transformed to
that distribution even when the number of reference samples is less than 120. Resampling methods are appropriate when
the distribution of data from the reference samples is non-Gaussian and in case the number of reference individuals and
corresponding samples are in the order of 40. At least 500-1000 random samples with replacement should be taken from
the results of measurement of the reference samples.