What are tests for determining the presence or a particular characteristic of a protein of interest called?

Tests designed to determine the presence or a specific characteristic of a protein of interest are referred to as assays. Assays encompass a broad range of techniques used in biotechnology and biochemistry to measure the presence, amount, or activity of a substance, particularly proteins. They can be qualitative (indicating the presence or absence) or quantitative (measuring the concentration).

Activity assays, on the other hand, are a subset of assays that specifically measure the activity of a protein, such as enzyme activity, rather than merely its presence or a general characteristic. While these are crucial for studying functional aspects of proteins, they do not cover all the analysis types included under the term "assays."

Buffers are solutions that resist changes in pH upon the addition of acids or bases, and while they play an essential role in supporting biological activities during assays, they are not tests in themselves.

Potency assays are specific tests that evaluate the strength or effectiveness of a substance (often a drug or a biological product) in producing a desired effect. While they also fall under the umbrella of assays, they are narrower in focus, particularly related to pharmacological contexts.

Thus, the term "assays" accurately encompasses the broader category of tests used to determine the presence or characteristics of proteins