radioimmunoassay

American  

[rey-dee-oh-im-yuh-noh-as-ey, -a-sey, -i-myoo-] / ˌreɪ di oʊˌɪm yə noʊˈæs eɪ, -æˈseɪ, -ɪˌmyu- /

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.

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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

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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

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Etymology

Origin of radioimmunoassay

First recorded in 1960–65; radio- + immunoassay

Example Sentences

Scientific journals initially refused to publish their discovery of insulin antibodies, a finding fundamental to radioimmunoassay.

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

Researchers in her lab at the Bronx veterans hospital modified radioimmunoassay to detect other hormones, vitamin B12 and the hepatitis B virus.

From New York Times • Jun. 2, 2011

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

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

From Time Magazine Archive