Table 4.

How Adaptive Randomization Using Minimization Works

	Prognostic factor	Control group	Treatment group
If allocated to control group	Site
	Site 1	4	2
	Site 2	4	5
	Sex
	Male	4	4
	Female	4	3
	Age band
	< 20	2	2
	20–64	2	2
	≥ 65	4	3
	Total number of imbalances	[(5 − 4) + (4 − 3) + (4 − 3)] = 3
If allocated to treatment group	Site
	Site 1	4	2
	Site 2	3	6
	Sex
	Male	4	4
	Female	3	4
	Age band
	< 20	2	2
	20–64	2	2
	≥ 65	3	4
	Total number of imbalances	[(6 − 3) + (4 − 3) + (4 − 3)] = 5

The 15th patient has factors sex female, 74 yr, and site 2. If this patient is allocated to the control group, the total imbalance is 3. If this patient is allocated to the treatment group, the total imbalance is 5. Therefore, this patient is allocated to the control group, and site 2, sex female, and the ≥ 65 age band in the control group receive the score.