Patent ID: 7037654

Claim:
A method for separating a releasable predetermined portion of a first reagent of a mixture from other components thereof, the method comprising: (a) combining (i) a first reagent comprising a releasable predetermined portion that includes a detectable moiety wherein the predetermined portion is attached to the first reagent by a cleavable moiety and wherein the first reagent comprises at least one interactive functionality adjacent the predetermined portion positioned in the first reagent such that the interactive functionality does not form part of the predetermined portion upon release thereof and (ii) a second reagent that potentiates the cleavage of the cleavable moiety, (b) subjecting the combination to conditions under which the cleavable moiety is cleaved to release the predetermined portion thereby forming a mixture, (c) including in the mixture a third reagent that comprises a moiety that binds to the interactive functionality resulting in chelation-generated species, and (d) electrophoretically separating the released predetermined portions from the mixture to form an electropherogram from which chelation-generated species are excluded, wherein the interactive functionality is a chelation moiety or a chelator selected from the group consisting of boron-containing reagents, reagents that comprise moieties that bind to boron containing reagents, arsenic containing reagents, reagents that comprise moieties that bind to arsenic containing reagents, transition metals, transition metal chelators, ferrocene containing reagents, and reagents that comprise moieties that bind to ferrocene containing reagents.