Patent ID: 8153442

Claim:
A method of enhancing the stability of signal output by a chemiluminescent reagent comprising a solid support having associated therewith a chemiluminescent composition comprising a complex of a metal and one or more chelating agents, the method comprising incorporating into a medium comprising the chemiluminescent reagent one or more stabilizing agents selected from the group consisting of metal chelating agents and metal chelates in an amount sufficient to enhance the stability of signal output by the chemiluminescent reagent wherein the metal chelating agents that are stabilizing agents are selected from the group consisting of 2-(1′,1′,1′,2′,2′,3′,3′-heptafluoro-4′,6′-hexanedion-6′-yl)-naphthylene, 4,4′-bis(2″,3″,3″-heptafluororo-4″,6″-hexanedion-6″-yl)-o-terphenyl, phenanthroline, phenanthroline carboxylic acid, 4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline (DPP), 3-(2-thienoyl, 1,1,1-trifluoroacetone (TTA), 3-(2-naphthoyl)-1,1,1-trifluoroacetone (NPPTA), (trioctyl phosphine oxide (TOPO), triphenyl phosphine oxide (TPPO), 3-benzoyl-1,1,1-trifluoroacetone (BFTA), 2,2-dimethyl-4-perfluorobutyoyl-3-butanone (fod), 2,2′-dipyridyl (bpy), salicylic acid, and bipyridylcarboxylic acid and wherein the metal chelates that are stabilizing agents are metal chelates of 2-(1′,1′,1′,2′,2′,3′,3′-heptafluoro-4′,6′-hexanedion-6′-yl)-naphthylene, 4,4′-bis(2″,3″,3″-heptafluororo-4″,6″-hexanedion-6″-yl)-o-terphenyl, phenanthroline, phenanthroline carboxylic acid, 4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline (DPP), 3-(2-thienoyl, 1,1,1-trifluoroacetone (TTA), 3-(2-naphthoyl)-1,1,1-trifluoroacetone (NPPTA), (trioctyl phosphine oxide (TOPO), triphenyl phosphine oxide (TPPO), 3-benzoyl-1,1,1-trifluoroacetone (BFTA), 2,2-dimethyl-4-perfluorobutyoyl-3-butanone (fod), 2,2′-dipyridyl (bpy), salicylic acid, and bipyridylcarboxylic acid.