1. A computer-implemented method for detecting outliers in microarray data, said method comprising the steps of: receiving the microarray data, said microarray data containing data values indicative of at least one characteristic associated with processed gene samples; using a mixed linear statistical model to generate predictions based upon the received microarray data; generating residuals based upon the predictions and the received microarray data; performing a statistical test for at least one generated residual by adding covariates to the mixed linear mathematical model and testing significance of the covariates; and designating a data value within the received microarray data as an outlier based upon the tested significance.