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🎯 Percent Recovery Calculator

Calculate percent recovery to assess the accuracy of an analytical method against a known or spiked amount.

Measured Amount found by assay

Expected (True/Spiked) Amount

% Recovery

—%

💡 Note: Typical acceptance ranges for %recovery are 98-102% for assay methods, 90-110% for trace/impurity methods, and can widen to 70-120% for bioanalytical methods at low concentrations — check your method's validation acceptance criteria.

📖 Example: A sample spiked with 10 mg of analyte is measured at 9.6 mg: %Recovery = 9.6/10 × 100 = 96%.

Frequently asked questions

What does %recovery measure?

Percent recovery quantifies the accuracy of an analytical method by comparing the amount of analyte actually measured against the known or spiked amount that should be present. It's typically assessed by spiking a blank matrix with a known amount of analyte and measuring how much is recovered after sample preparation.

What's a typical acceptable %recovery range?

This varies by method type and regulatory context: assay methods commonly require 98-102%, impurity/trace methods 90-110%, and bioanalytical methods at low concentrations may accept 70-120% or wider. Always refer to your specific method validation protocol.

Why might recovery be below 100%?

Recovery below 100% often indicates analyte loss during sample preparation — for example through incomplete extraction, adsorption to labware, degradation, or evaporation. Recovery above 100% can indicate matrix interference or a positive bias in the method.

Accuracy & how this is derived

Derivation: Direct ratio of measured to expected (true or spiked) amount, expressed as a percentage.

Validated against: Standard accuracy assessment method described in ICH Q2(R1) and USP General Chapter <1225> Validation of Compendial Procedures.

⚠️ For educational and research support only — verify critical results independently before use in regulated, clinical, or publication-bound work.

✔ Last updated: July 2026 · Report an error

Percent recovery in method accuracy testing

Percent recovery is a core accuracy metric in analytical method validation, determined by spiking a sample matrix with a known quantity of analyte, carrying it through the full sample preparation and measurement procedure, and comparing the measured result to the known spiked amount. Consistent recovery close to 100% across the working range indicates the method accurately measures the analyte without significant loss or interference from the sample matrix.