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radioimmunoassay

American  
[ray-dee-oh-im-yuh-noh-as-ay, -a-say, -i-myoo-] / ˌreɪ di oʊˌɪm jə noʊˈæs eɪ, -æˈseɪ, -ɪˌmju- /

noun

  1. a test procedure that integrates immunologic and radiolabeling techniques to measure minute quantities of a substance, as a protein, hormone, or drug, in a given sample of body fluid or tissue.


radioimmunoassay British  
/ ˈreɪdɪəʊˌɪmjʊnəʊˈæseɪ /

noun

  1. a sensitive immunological assay, making use of antibodies and radioactive labelling, for the detection and quantification of biologically important substances, such as hormone concentrations in the blood

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

radioimmunoassay Scientific  
/ rā′dē-ō-ĭm′yə-nō-ăs′ā,-ĭm-yo̅o̅′- /
  1. An immunoassay in which the substance to be identified or quantified is labelled with a radioactive substance (called a tracer), such as an ion.

  2. See also immunoassay tracer


Etymology

Origin of radioimmunoassay

First recorded in 1960–65; radio- + immunoassay


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

In their work on radioimmunoassay, Dr. Yalow and Dr. Berson used radioactive tracers to measure hormones that were otherwise difficult or impossible to detect because they occur in extremely low concentrations.

From New York Times ● Jun. 2, 2011

Dr. Yalow developed radioimmunoassay with her longtime collaborator, Dr. Solomon A. Berson.

From New York Times ● Jun. 2, 2011

But a few drops of blood from a pinprick on the newborn’s heel can be analyzed with radioimmunoassay to identify babies at risk.

From New York Times ● Jun. 2, 2011

Using the radioimmunoassay techniques for which she won her prize, she and a co-worker at The Bronx, N.Y.,

From Time Magazine Archive

Using sensitive radioimmunoassay techniques that can pick up infinitesimal levels of hormones in the blood, Dr. Spark and his team studied 105 impotent men, aged 18 to 75.

From Time Magazine Archive

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