Patent ID: 6881536

Claim:
A method for the detection or quantitation of an analyte of interest in a sample, which method comprises the steps of: (1) forming a composition comprising: (a) a sample, which may comprise a first quantity of the analyte of interest; (b) at least one reagent substance selected from the group consisting of: (i) a second quantity of the analyte of interest or an analog of the analyte of interest, and (ii) a binding partner of the analyte of interest or its said analog, wherein one of said reagent substances is linked to a label compound capable of being induced to electrochemiluminesce; and (c) a second reagent comprising a plurality of particles which are: (i) capable of specifically binding with the analyte of interest or (ii) attached to the second quantity of the analyte of interest or its analog, wherein said particles and said analyte are different; (2) inducing the label compound to electrochemiluminesce; and (3) measuring luminescence emitted by the label compound to determine whether or not, or in what amount, the analyte of interest is present in the sample.