Letter A

Assay

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An assay is an analysis done to determine:</P> > >The presence of a substance and the amount of that substance.

Thus, an assay may be done for example to determine the level of thyroid hormones in the blood of a person suspected of being hypothyroid (or hyperthyroid).

>The biological or pharmacological potency of a drug.

For example, an assay may be done of a vaccine to determine its potency.</LI></OL> Assay is also used as a verb and has several related meanings in this role: > >To try or attempt.

For example, 'she assayed this operation for the first time and so was understandably nervous.' >To analyze a mixture for one or more of its components >To judge the value, the worth of something.</LI></OL> The words 'assay' and 'essay' are often confounded, a cardinal sin according to some word mavens.

However, 'assay' and 'essay' share a common ancestry.

Both words come from the French 'essai' which in turn came from the Late Latin 'exagium' meaning the 'act of weighing'.

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