Abstract
A chemiluminescence-delay technique has been developed for the assay of clinically important reductants. Under the experimental conditions described the time de lay before chemiluminescence is observed exhibits a linear dependence on substrate concentration up to ∼ 6 × 10−5 M. The method, utilises the ferrihaem-catalysed oxidation of luminol by hydrogen peroxide as the light-emitting reaction. Specificity is conferred upon the assay by the use of the appropriate oxidoreductase enzymes. The technique has been applied in the estimation of ascorbic acid and uric acid in aqueous standards and biological samples.