A Chromatography Assay generally refers to an analytical test that uses chromatography techniques to separate, identify, and/or quantify components in a mixture. It is widely used in biochemistry, pharmaceuticals, environmental testing, and food analysis.

Here’s a breakdown:

🔹 What It Is

Chromatography is a separation method where components of a mixture are distributed between a stationary phase (solid or liquid on a solid support) and a mobile phase (liquid or gas).

A chromatography assay means applying this technique specifically as an analytical test to assess sample purity, composition, or concentration.

🔹 Types Commonly Used in Assays

HPLC (High-Performance Liquid Chromatography)

Most common assay type in pharmaceuticals.

Used for drug purity, stability studies, impurity profiling, biomolecule quantification.

GC (Gas Chromatography)

For volatile compounds (e.g., solvents, flavors, pesticides).

Coupled with detectors like FID or MS.

Affinity Chromatography

Often in bioassays, e.g., separating proteins, antibodies, or nucleic acids.

Ion Exchange, Size Exclusion, TLC, UPLC

Specialized assays depending on analyte properties.

🔹 Typical Applications

Pharmaceutical industry: Drug assay (content determination), impurity profiling, stability testing.

Biotech: Protein purity, monoclonal antibody characterization.

Food & environmental testing: Contaminant detection, flavor analysis.

Clinical labs: Therapeutic drug monitoring, metabolite analysis.

🔹 Output of a Chromatography Assay

A chromatogram: peaks representing different compounds.

Each peak has a retention time (identity) and area/height (quantification).

👉 In short, a chromatography assay is not a single method but a category of analytical tests that harness chromatography for quantitative and qualitative analysis.