A process is provided for analyzing a specimen of biological material in any of a number of biochemical or immunological tests for an analyte which involves subjecting the specimen to treatment which develops a color correlating to the amount of analyte in the specimen. According to the invention at least one defined color characteristic selected from hue angle, chroma, saturation and lightness of the developed color is measured and the results of that measurement analyzed to determine the presence or concentration of the analyte in the specimen. Particular applications are to the detection of cancerous or pre-cancerous abnormalities from the analysis of lung mucus, throat mucus, cervical mucus or seminal fluid.