Bioassay

Bioassay is a biochemical test to estimate the relative potency of a sample compound to a standard compound.[3][1] Typical bioassay involves a stimulus (ex. drugs) applied to a subject (ex. animals, tissues, plants) and a response (ex. death) of the subject is triggered and measured.[5] The intensity of stimulus is varied by doses and depending on this intensity of stimulus, a change/response will be followed by a subject.[5]

The first uses of bioassay dates back to as early as the late 19th century, when the foundation of bioassays was laid down by a German physician, Paul Ehrlich.[6] He introduced the concept of standardization by the reactions of living matter.[6][5] His bioassay on diphtheria antitoxin was the first bioassay to receive recognition.[7] His use of bioassay was able to discover that administration of gradually increasing dose of diphtheria in animals stimulated production of antiserum.[8]

One well known example of a bioassay is the "canary in the coal mine" experiment.[9] To test for methane, miners would take methane-sensitive canaries to coal mines to ensure safe air.

Many of the early bioassays consisted of using animals to test carcinogenicity of chemicals.[10] In 1915, Yamaigiwa Katsusaburo and Koichi Ichikawa tested the carcinogenicity of coal tar using the inner surface of rabbit's ears.[10]

Through 1940s and 1960s, animal bioassay was primarily used to test for toxicity and safety of drugs, food additives and pesticides.[10]

In late 1960s and 1970s, reliance on bioassay increased as the public concern for occupational and environmental hazards increased.[10] While before this health risks of certain chemicals such as pesticide was tested in animal bioassay, it was still rare and testing was not seen often.[10]

• Assay
• Immunoassay