An assay method for an analyte in a sample, the assay method comprising: forming a reaction mixture in an aqueous solution, in any order or concurrently, by adding sample, a chemiluminescent-labeled specific binding partner, an activator-labeled specific binding partner, wherein the activator label effects activation of the chemiluminescent label, and a selective signal inhibiting agent, wherein all components are soluble in aqueous solution, wherein the chemiluminescent-labeled specific binding partner and activator-labeled specific binding partner bind to analyte present in the sample to form a binding complex; adding to the reaction mixture a trigger solution, wherein the trigger solution releases a detectable chemiluminescent signal correlated to the amount of the analyte-bound chemiluminescent-labeled specific binding partner and analyte-bound activator-labeled specific binding partner in the reaction mixture, wherein the selective signal inhibiting agent is selected from the group consisting of ascorbic acid or salts thereof such as ascorbate sodium salt, and TROLOX, wherein: the chemiluminescent-labeled specific binding partner comprises a chemiluminescent label compound connected directly or indirectly to a specific binding pair member, wherein the chemiluminescent label is selected from acridan ketenedithioacetal compounds, acridan esters, acridan thioesters, acridan sulfonamides, and acridan enol derivatives of formula VIII: wherein R 1 is selected from alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aryl, and aralkyl groups of 1-20 carbon atoms any of which can be substituted with 1-3 groups selected from carbonyl groups, carboxyl groups, tri(C 1 -C 8 alkyl)silyl groups, a SO 3 - group, a OSO 3 -2 group, glycosyl groups, a PO 3 - group, a OPO 3 -2 group, halogen atoms, a hydroxyl group, a thiol group, amino groups, quaternary ammonium groups, or quaternary phosphonium groups, wherein X is selected from C 1 -C 8 alkyl, aryl, aralkyl groups, alkyl or aryl carboxyl groups having from 1-20 carbon atoms, tri(C 1 -C 8 alkyl)silyl groups, a SO 3 - group, glycosyl groups and phosphoryl groups of the formula PO(OR')(OR") wherein R and R" are independently selected from C 1 -C 8 alkyl, cyanoalkyl, aryl and aralkyl groups, trialkylsilyl groups, alkali metal cations, alkaline earth cations, ammonium and trialkylphosphonium cations, wherein Z is selected from O and S atoms, wherein R 6 is selected from substituted or unsubstituted C 1 -C 4 alkyl, phenyl, benzyl, alkoxyalkyl and carboxyalkyl groups, wherein R 7-14 are each hydrogen or 1 or 2 substituents are selected from alkyl, alkoxy, hydroxy, and halogen and the remaining of R 7-14 are hydrogen, or wherein each of R 7-14 is hydrogen and R 1 is a labeling substituent, or wherein one of R 7-14. is a labeling substituent and the others of R 7-14 are hydrogen, wherein the activator-labeled specific binding partner comprises an activator label compound connected directly or indirectly to a specific binding pair member, wherein the activator label is selected from transition metal salts, transition metal complexes and enzymes, wherein the activator label has peroxidase activity, and wherein the trigger solution comprises a peroxide compound. the chemiluminescent-labeled specific binding partner comprises a chemiluminescent label compound connected directly or indirectly to a specific binding pair member, wherein the chemiluminescent label is selected from acridan ketenedithioacetal compounds, acridan esters, acridan thioesters, acridan sulfonamides, and acridan enol derivatives of formula VIII: wherein R 1 is selected from alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aryl, and aralkyl groups of 1-20 carbon atoms any of which can be substituted with 1-3 groups selected from carbonyl groups, carboxyl groups, tri(C 1 -C 8 alkyl)silyl groups, a SO 3 - group, a OSO 3 -2 group, glycosyl groups, a PO 3 - group, a OPO 3 -2 group, halogen atoms, a hydroxyl group, a thiol group, amino groups, quaternary ammonium groups, or quaternary phosphonium groups, wherein X is selected from C 1 -C 8 alkyl, aryl, aralkyl groups, alkyl or aryl carboxyl groups having from 1-20 carbon atoms, tri(C 1 -C 8 alkyl)silyl groups, a SO 3 - group, glycosyl groups and phosphoryl groups of the formula PO(OR')(OR") wherein R and R" are independently selected from C 1 -C 8 alkyl, cyanoalkyl, aryl and aralkyl groups, trialkylsilyl groups, alkali metal cations, alkaline earth cations, ammonium and trialkylphosphonium cations, wherein Z is selected from O and S atoms, wherein R 6 is selected from substituted or unsubstituted C 1 -C 4 alkyl, phenyl, benzyl, alkoxyalkyl and carboxyalkyl groups, wherein R 7-14 are each hydrogen or 1 or 2 substituents are selected from alkyl, alkoxy, hydroxy, and halogen and the remaining of R 7-14 are hydrogen, or wherein each of R 7-14 is hydrogen and R 1 is a labeling substituent, or wherein one of R 7-14. is a labeling substituent and the others of R 7-14 are hydrogen, wherein the activator-labeled specific binding partner comprises an activator label compound connected directly or indirectly to a specific binding pair member, wherein the activator label is selected from transition metal salts, transition metal complexes and enzymes, wherein the activator label has peroxidase activity, and wherein the trigger solution comprises a peroxide compound.