Surrogate parameter - (Sep/03/2014 )

Hi, I've ever only seen the term surrogate marker or surrogate parameter used in clinical contexts (= a biomarker that is investigated in place of the actual clinical endpoint of the study). But is it OK to use this word also in a non-clinical context, i.e. saying that in order to investigate a cellular process, instead of measuring it directly we measured something else that served as a surrogate parameter? Or do you know an appropriate synonym ? I tried to google for synonyms but didn't find anything useful...

It should be fine. My guess is that the term migrated into medical parlance from the scientific side anyway.

OK, thanks.