Abstract: Methods are provided for detecting the binding of a first member to a second member of a ligand pair, comprising the steps of (a) combining a set of first tagged members with a biological sample which may contain one or more second members, under conditions, and for a time sufficient to permit binding of a first member to a second member, wherein said tag is correlative with a particular first member and detectable by non-fluorescent spectrometry, or potentiometry, (b) separating bound first and second members from unbound members, (c) cleaving the tag from the tagged first member, and (d) detecting the tag by non-fluorescent spectrometry, or potentiometry, and therefrom detecting the binding of the first member to the second member.

Abstract: Methods related to solid supports for binding reactions are disclosed. The present invention provides procedures for prepaing solid supports, and their use in binding assays, such that non-specific background on the solid supports is reduced. The reduction of non-specific background permits the detection of low levels of specific binding which normally would be masked by the non-specific binding. The methods are applicable to a variety of target ligands and probes, including nucleic acids such as oligonucleotides.