CONJUGATE HAVING CLEAVABLE LINKING AGENT

A method and reagent that can be used to eliminate the signal caused by non-specific binding of a labeled conjugate, e.g., a specific binding member attached to a label, to a solid phase, e.g., a magnetic microparticle. The method and the reagent involve the use of a cleavable linking agent to link the label to the specific binding member that specifically binds to the analyte. The use of a cleavable linking agent would allow the release of the label from the specific binding member from the complex comprising the magnetic microparticle, analyte, and labeled conjugate into solution. After the release of the label, the magnetic microparticles having any label non-specifically bound thereto, are removed from the reaction mixture. Only the label, e.g., acridinium, from the labeled conjugate would remain in the elution well. The conjugate that is non-specifically bound through interaction between the label and the solid phase, e.g., a magnetic particle, would remain bound to the solid phase, and would subsequently be removed from the elution well when the solid phase is removed from the elution well and transferred to another well the introduction of additional reagent(s).