The
FDA defines analyte specific reagents (ASRs) in 21 CFR 864.4020 as “
antibodies, both polyclonal and monoclonal, specific receptor
proteins,
ligands,
nucleic acid sequences, and similar reagents which, through specific binding or chemical reaction with substances in a specimen, are intended to use in a diagnostic application for identification and quantification of an individual chemical substance or
ligand in biological specimens.” In simple terms an analyte specific reagent is the active ingredient of an in-house test.
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