Osmora Scientific Glossary
Analyte
The specific substance an analytical method is intended to detect, identify, or quantify in a sample.
In plain language
The thing you're actually measuring in a test.
Why it matters in research
Defining the analyte precisely determines what a result does — and does not — describe.
Where you'll encounter it
Method descriptions and any discussion of what a test measures.
Related terms
Related Academy lessons
Source
- High Performance Liquid Chromatography. Chemistry LibreTexts (Analytical Chemistry). Retrieved 2026.