GESTEIGERTE ELEKTROCHEMILUMINESZENZ

A composition suitable for use in an ECL assay, wherein electromagnetic radiation emitted by said composition is detected, which composition comprises (a) a metal-containing ECL moiety which, when oxidized by exposure to an effective amount of electrochemical energy, is capable of being converted to an excited state from which electromagnetic radiation is emitted upon exposure of the excited ECL moiety to conditions sufficient to induce said emission; (b) a species, which, when oxidized, forms a strong reducing agent; (c) an electrolyte capable of functioning as a medium in which said ECL moiety and said species can be oxidized; and (d) a substance in the presence of which the amount of electromagnetic radiation emitted by said composition is increased.