diagnostic assay
- noun
- /ˌdaɪəɡˈnɒstɪk əˈseɪ/
- Specialized
:
ensayo diagnóstico
- The specific molecular and serologic diagnostic assays that we developed will facilitate rapid identification of this novel infectious agent should new cases occur.
- molecular diagnostic assay
Examples
-
This potential public health threat prompted us to develop diagnostic assays for the rapid detection of Sosuga virus.
Academic text (2014) -
By 1999, the GDL had stopped testing, and Myriad was now the only company in the US carrying out this diagnostic assay.
Blog text (8) -
The same people who work for pharmaceutical companies that have invested time, effort, and money into developing putatively patient-grade diagnostic assays.
Blog text (12) -
The need for a reliable diagnostic assay to detect larval cyathostomins is still obligatory.
Academic text (2015) -
Table 1. Sociodemographic characteristics of patients enrolled in a study of the use of diagnostic assays for rotavirus in children with acute gastroenteritis, 3 New Vaccine Surveillance Network sites (USA), October 2008-October 2009* TABLE #
Academic text (2013) -
The new diagnostic assay helped doctors quickly confirm the presence of the disease in patients.
-
Researchers are working on a diagnostic assay that can identify infections within hours.
-
The laboratory developed a diagnostic assay that accurately detects the virus in blood samples.
Synonyms
60
4.0
A test that finds the cause of a problem in a person or machine
8
7.7
A test that finds what a substance contains or how pure it is
7
3.5
A medical check that shows what illness or problem a person has
5
5.9
A lab test that uses a chemical reaction and color change to show if a sample has antibodies or germs
1
4.4
A medical test or process to find the cause of a health problem
1
4.0
A method doctors use to find what causes an illness
A lab test that uses antibodies to find or measure proteins in body samples
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'a scientific test to identify or confirm a medical condition' is directly and transparently derived from combining 'diagnostic' (indicative of disease) with 'assay' (a formal test). The adjective+noun composition follows standard compositional patterns and has clear cross-linguistic parallels, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents should be able to infer the MWE meaning.
Etymology
Diagnostic assay comes from diagnostic ('showing what is wrong') and assay ('a careful test of a sample'). Picture a scientist testing a tiny sample to find a hidden illness — that's why it means 'a test used to find or confirm an illness'.