An assay is an investigative (analytic) procedure in laboratory medicine, pharmacology, environmental biology and molecular biology for qualitatively assessing or quantitatively measuring the presence or amount or the functional activity of a target entity (the analyte). Qualitative assay, i.e. assays which generally give just a pass or fail, or positive or negative or some such sort of only small number of qualitative gradation rather than an exact quantity.
The average fixed cost (AFC) curve will decline as additional units are produced, and continue to decline. The average total cost (ATC) curve initially will decline as fixed costs are spread over a larger number of units, but will go up as marginal costs increase due to the law of diminishing returns.
Fixed Costs Cost Concepts - * Discretionary fixed costs are set at a fixed amount each year at the discretion of management. Fixed Costs Cost Concepts - * Total variable costs increase in proportion to increases in unit level cost drivers. Total variable costs (Y) Total activity (X) 0 0 Basic Cost Behavior Patterns Cost Concepts - * Total mixed costs contain fixed and variable cost elements. They increase, but not in direct proportion to increases in unit level cost drivers.