Evidence-appraisal glossary
Analytical validation
Analytical validation confirms that a test or measurement reliably and accurately captures the quantity it targets, such as a biomarker's concentration. It asks whether the assay measures what it claims to, separate from whether that quantity is clinically useful.
Also called: analytic validity, analytical validity.
It examines properties like accuracy, precision, reproducibility, and limits of detection under defined conditions. Analytical validity is necessary but not sufficient, since a test can measure a molecule flawlessly yet still fail to predict any outcome that matters. It is distinct from clinical validation, which asks whether the measurement actually relates to a health state.
This is a plain-language methodology definition for reading research. It is general education, not medical advice.