Assay elements

Assay elements are the building blocks of your assay. They are the starting point for the setup of your analysis workflow, as they represent the individual samples you want to evaluate in your analysis.

About assay elements

Each assay element plays a specific role in setting up your Dose-response analysis document, serving as a standard, test, or control sample. By organizing samples as assay elements, you create a clear structure that supports the entire setup and analysis process.

You can tailor the analysis to reflect the purpose and characteristics of each sample by assigning key settings to each assay element, including preparation schemes and data selection schemes. These settings determine how PLA 3.0 processes and evaluates each sample, supporting consistent and reproducible bioassay analysis.

Dose-response analysis documents can contain up to three types of assay elements:

  • Standard
  • Test
  • Control

Standard

The Standard element defines the reference standard, also referred to as standard sample or standard preparation. Calibration curve procedures require a standard. Its regression curve/line is used to interpolate test samples.

Every assay document has one Standard element by default. You can remove this element if you require.

Test

The Test element lets you provide information on a test sample, also referred to as preparation sample or unknown. Every test sample has a preparation scheme which can be of two types, that is, multi-dose scheme or single-dose scheme.

  • For test samples having multi-dose schemes assigned, a regression is performed during calculation.

  • For test samples having single-dose schemes assigned, a dose value is interpolated using the regression curve of the standard sample.

You can add as many Test elements as you require. You can also remove all Test elements if you require.

Control

The Control element lets you provide information on a control sample as well as positive or negative controls. The system treats control samples in the same way as test samples.

Every control sample has a preparation scheme which can be of two types, that is, multi-dose scheme or single-dose scheme.

  • For control samples having multi-dose schemes assigned, a regression is performed during calculation.

  • For control samples having single-dose schemes assigned, a dose value is interpolated using the regression curve of the Standard sample.

Tip: To add a control line to your assay, set up a control sample based on a single-dose scheme.

You can add as many Control elements as you require. You can also remove all Control elements if you require.

Work with assay elements

For details on how to create and work with assay elements, see the Create assay elements topic.