Bioassay

n. determining of the biological function of a substance by examining its influence on the growth of organisms

Bioassay is a shorthand commonly used term for biological assay and is a type of scientific experiment. Bioassays are typically conducted to measure the effects of a substance on a living . Bioassays may be or . Qualitative bioassays are used for assessing the physical effects of a substance that may not be quantified, such as abnormal development or deformity. Quantitative bioassays involve estimation of the concentration or potency of a substance by measurement of the biological response that it produces. Quantitative bioassays are typically analyzed using the methods of biostatistics. Bioassays are essential in the development of new drugs, and monitoring pollutants in the environment. Environmental bioassays are generally a broad-range survey of toxicity, and a toxicity identification evaluation is conducted to determine what the relevant toxicants are.
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Bioassay /bio·as·say/ determination of the active power of a drug sample by comparing its effects on a live animal or an isolated organ preparation [more]Bioassay - Community and Resources

Noun
1. appraisal of the biological activity of a substance by testing its effect on an organism and comparing the result with some agreed standard
(hypernym) assay
(hyponym) immunoassay, immunochemical assay
Verb
1. subject to a bio-assay
(hypernym) assay

n. bioassay, determining of the biological function of a substance by examining its influence on the growth of organisms