Assays for biological -Biologicals are referred to the natural biological products.

-It also includes products either novel or derived from biotechnological methods. -These are intended to be used for pharmaceutical purpose. -Hormones, growth factors, antigens, antibodies, serum, plasma etc. Analytical techniques: 1)Spectrophotometric: (UV//Vis, colourimetry, fluorimetry etc) -A spectrophotometric assay is used to measure the light absorbed by a particular solute. 2)Immunoassays:(Radioimmunoassay, ELISA) -Makes use of the interaction between antibodies and their antigens. -Used to identify, quantify or further characterize either the antigen or the antibody. -The antigen may be a relatively simple (drug) or more complex (protein). 3)Protein Assay: -Used to measure the concentration of protein in solution. -Techniques may be spectrophotometric & antibody- based. spectrophotometric techniques: i)UV measurement at 280nm(due to amino acids tyrosine & tryptophan). ii)Colourimetry by phosphomolybdotungstic acid reagent(tyrosine residue specific, at 750nm). iii)Absorption shifts from 470nm to 595nm, colorimetry by Blue 90 dye(lysine & arginine residue specific). iv)Bicinchoninic acid(BCA) , reduction of Cu2+ to Cu1+ by protein. v)Biuret assay, interaction of Cu2+` with protein in alkaline condition (545nm). vi)Fluorimetry, derivatisation of protein(with primaray amine) with o-phthalaldehyde. vii)Based on nitrogen analysis.(Sulphuric acid digestion/Kjeldahl technique). 4)Polymerase chain reaction(PCR): -It is a method of amplifying a target sequence of DNA. -Rapid , sensitive & selective means of amplifying a desired sequence of DNA. -In vitro technique. - In qualitative & quantitative analysis. -Additionally useful in medicine( e.g. disease detection, cancer, inherited disorders, prenatal diagnosis etc), forensic medicines(e.g.DNA fingerprinting) & in basic research(e.g. gene cloning).

-Other useful techniques are liquid chromatography, flow cytometry, haematological techniques, microscopy etc.