This paper examines the validity of statistical methods for determining nondestructive inspection probability of detection (POD) curves from relatively small hit/miss POD data sets. One method published in the literature is shown to be invalid for analysis of POD hit/miss data. Another standard method is shown to be valid only for data sets containing more than 200 observations. An improved method is proposed which allows robust lower 95&percent; confidence limit POD curves to be determined from data sets containing as few as 50 hit/miss observations. © 2003 American Institute of Physics