Bioanalytical Instrumentation Flashcards
Qualitative Chemical Analysis
The process of identifying the components or types of substances present in a sample, without determining how much of each is present.
It focuses on what is there, not how much.
Ex: Detecting the presence of DNA using gel electrophoresis.
Identifies substances
Descriptive results
Focus is on presence/absence
Quantitative Chemical Analysis
Measures the amount or concentration of a substance in a sample.
It answers the question of how much of a substance is present.
Ex: Measuring blood glucose levels using a biosensor.
Measures the amount of substances
Numerical results
Focus is on concentration or quantity
Precision
The degree of mutual agreement among data that have been obtained in the same way.
Bias
Population mean for the concentration of an analyte.
Sensitivity
Small differences in analyte concentration.
Detection Limit
Minimum concentration or mass of analyte that can be detected at a known confidence level.
Selectivity
Degree to which the method is free from interference by other species contained in the sample matrix.
Transducer
A device that converts information from a non-electrical form to an electrical form or from an electrical form to a non-electrical form.
Detector
Much broader term that includes all aspects of the instrument from the input transducer to the output transducer.
Sensor
A detector designed to monitor a particular analyte.
Calibration
Determines the relationship between the analytical response and the analyte concentration.
