Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer-readable medium for adaptive normalization of analyte levels in one or more samples, the method including receiving one or more analyte levels corresponding to one or more analytes detected in the one or more samples, each analyte level corresponding to a detected quantity of that analyte in the one or more samples; and iteratively applying a scale factor to the one or more analyte levels over one or more iterations until a change in the scale factor between consecutive iterations is less than or equal to a predetermined change threshold or until a quantity of the one or more iterations exceeds a maximum iteration value, each iteration in the one or more iterations comprising: determining a distance between each analyte level in the one or more analyte levels and a corresponding reference distribution of that analyte in a reference data set; determining the scale factor based at least in part on analyte levels that are within a predetermined distance of their corresponding re

Abstract: The subject invention relates to methods for obtaining biological samples of improved quality. It encompasses the identification of markers or proteins in biological samples that are altered due to variations in sample collection, handling and processing. They are also useful for correcting variations in measured results for disease biomarkers. Further, they can permit the rejection of samples or groups of samples as necessary if it is determined that their collection method was not in accordance with the predetermined protocol. Other advantages useful to the skilled artisan are described herein.