Which type of test is used to measure the amount of total protein present in a sample?

The measurement of total protein in a sample is typically accomplished using concentration assays. These assays are designed specifically to quantify the amount of various proteins in a sample, providing a total protein count that reflects the overall concentration. Common techniques for concentration assays include the Bradford assay, Bicinchoninic Acid (BCA) assay, and Lowry assay, all of which involve colorimetric methods that correlate the intensity of a color change to the protein concentration.

Concentration assays focus primarily on providing a straightforward measurement of total protein levels, making them essential tools in biochemical and clinical laboratories when evaluating protein content in solutions, cell lysates, or biological fluids. By determining the total protein concentration, researchers can assess the biochemical status of a sample and gather essential information on cellular functions and health.

Other testing types like activity assays, immunoassays, and electrophoresis serve different purposes, such as measuring the functional activity of enzymes, detecting specific proteins using antibodies, and separating proteins based on size or charge, respectively. While they all have valuable applications, they do not primarily focus on quantifying total protein levels in a sample.