key term - Effective Dose 50% (ED50)

Definition

The effective dose 50% (ED50) is the dose of a substance or treatment that produces a desired effect in 50% of the population or test subjects.

Related terms

Lethal Dose 50% (LD50):

The lethal dose 50% (LD50) is the dose at which 50% of the population or test subjects die from exposure to a substance.

Therapeutic Index: The therapeutic index is a measure of the safety and effectiveness of a drug, calculated by dividing the LD50 by the ED50.

Margin of Safety: The margin of safety refers to the difference between the therapeutic dose and toxic dose, indicating how much room for error exists when administering a medication.