Authors’ reply to Betts, Stokes, and Kleiner

There is growing recognition of the importance of evidence based methods in scientific laboratory settings, even in animal studies, to improve the safety and efficacy of research.1

In terms of the five references we misclassified, we are posting a correction on the BMJ website and welcome further independent scrutiny. As for the power calculations, two of the studies we are unable to verify, and in another we could not locate the power calculation.2

Betts states, “Given the tight laboratory controls applied in acute experiments, we usually find that 10-20 participants in a crossover design are adequate to detect effects (as shown by the numerous positive effects reported).”3 If this is correct, the results are applicable only to people in tight …