Definition

A laboratory method used to detect and measure specific substances, like proteins, by using the reaction between an antigen and an antibody.

Example

The immunoassay was used to measure the levels of hormones in the patient's blood.

Conversation

Have you heard about the new immunoassay technique they are using in labs now?

Yeah, I read that it's really effective for testing various substances.

I was surprised by how precise the immunoassay can be in detecting proteins.

It's amazing how far technology has come in medical testing!

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Immunoassay → It is formed from "immunis" (from Latin, meaning exempt or free from) and "assay" (from Old French *assayer*, meaning to try or test). The word refers to a test that measures the presence of antibodies or antigens in a sample, thus assessing immunity or the immune response.

Memory Tip

Think of being 'exempt' or 'free from' something ('immunis') and 'testing' or 'trying' it ('assayer') — that's why immunoassay means testing for immunity.

Visually Confused Words