Table 3.

Example of minimization (adapted from Scott et al. 2002)[46]

Covariate	Intervention	Control
Baseline rate
High	2	2
Moderate	2	3
Low	1	1
Covariate rate
High	2	3
Moderate	3	1
Low	1	1

Allocation of seventh patient with high baseline rate and moderate covariate rate.

Marginal totals if allocated to intervention group:

Baseline: |(2 + 1) - 2| = 1; Covariate: |(3 + 1) - 1| = 3; 1 + 3 = 4.

Marginal totals if allocated to control group:

Baseline: |2 - (2 + 1)| = 1; Covariate: |3 - (1 + 1)| = 1; 1 + 1 = 2.

Therefore, patient allocated to control because 2 < 4.