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Assays

An assay is an analytical procedure to test the properties and/or composition of organic substances, metals, drugs, or other materials by chemical means. Assays can also be used to analyse the strength of a substance. In biology, they are frequently used to test for the presence or concentration of infectious agents or antibodies.

Assays are regularly used in scientific research laboratories which are increasingly investing in robotic workstations to automate their liquid-handling assays. This is to avoid human error, ensuring assay steps are performed consistently.

Assays are used in research laboratories for studying DNA, Protein, Cytotoxicity, Viruses, Cellular secretions, drugs and for environmental contaminants such as arsenic and lead.

Assay are also employed in the testing of gold, either as jewellery, or as ore, bullion or coin, to determine its purity or fineness. Originally this was done by scratching the gold on a touchstone, treating the trace with acid and comparing it against standard marks A method which is still widely used today. However, the fire assay is a far more accurate method, and is a technique understood by the Egyptians, which is the principle chemical method used today.

Web Resources On Assays

300 Years of Assaying American Iron and Iron Ores
Merriam-Webster: Assay

Book Resources On Assays

Assays of the Haeme-biosynthetic Enzymes by D F Bishop and Robert J Desnick
The ELISA Guidebook by John R Crowther

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