Exponential decontamination models for count data

Abstract

Several models are developed for the estimation of the rate of exponential die-off from decontamination data. Calculations with illustrative data are reported which indicate that the estimation of this rate and its variance are sensitive to changes in modelling assumptions. Since extrapolation using this estimated rate is used in the specification of planetary quarantine standards, special care should be taken in the selection of an appropriate model and corresponding estimation procedure for the analysis of each set of decontamination data to be used for this purpose.