An assay is a type of analysis conducted to determine the presence and quantity of a particular substance. For instance, an assay can be performed to measure thyroid hormone levels in a person suspected of having hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism. Additionally, assays are used to assess the biological or pharmacological strength of a drug, such as evaluating the effectiveness of a vaccine.The term "assay" also functions as a verb, carrying several related meanings, including:- To attempt or try something new, as in "she assayed this for the first time and was understandably nervous."- To analyze a mixture to identify one or more of its components.- To assess the value or worth of something.It's common for people to mix up "assay" with "essay," a mistake frowned upon by language experts. However, these two words share a common origin. Both derive from the French "essai," which itself originated from the Late Latin "exagium," meaning "the act of weighing."
