HealthAugust 3, 2026

immunoassay

im-yuh-no-MAY-say

Definition

A biochemical test that measures the presence or concentration of a macromolecule or small molecule in a solution through the use of an antibody or antigen.

Etymology

The word is a hybrid formation combining 'immuno-', derived from the Latin 'immunis' (exempt or free), and 'assay', from the Old French 'assai' (trial or test).

In the news

The article uses the term to describe the automated technology behind a specific blood test, highlighting its role in detecting amyloid pathology through laboratory analysis. This matters because it illustrates how precise diagnostic tools can be scaled for clinical use.

Blood-Based Biomarkers Expand Access to Alzheimer’s Disease Assessment

Read the full article ↗

the-scientist.com

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