| abstract |
An oxidase enzyme system to provide long lived entities capable of being recognized by a chemiluminescent reagent is disclosed. In the preferred embodiments, a specific binding pair ligand or analyte is coupled with xanthine oxidase, either directly or via a streptavidin bridge. Thereafter the presence of an analyte can be determined by a chemiluminescent emission upon addition of a signal reagent comprising an oxidase substrate, a chemiluminescent reagent, such as luminol, and an enhancer, i.e. iron EDTA complex with a buffer providing a pH ranging from about 9.5 to about 10.5 The resulting chemiluminescent signal is stable and detectable for many hours or days after initiation. The chemiluminescent oxidase system is particularly useful for immunoassays and nucleotide probe analysis. |