Reagent and assay methods including a phenazine-containing indicator

A reagent for detecting the presence of an analyte that will react with the oxidized form of a dehydrogenase enzyme, thereby forming the reduced form of the dehydrogenase enzyme, consisting essentially of:

• a catalytic amount of the oxidized form of the dehydrogenase enzyme;
• a catalytic amount of the oxidized form of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide;
• and
• a phenazine-containing compound that will react with the reduced form of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, the phenazine-containing compound being in sufficient amount to form a detectable, colored semiquinoid upon reaction of the phenazine-containing compound with the reduced form of the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, thereby indicating the presence of the analyte,
• whereby the phenazine-containing compound functions as an indicator compound and not as a redox mediator.

A reagent for measuring the amount of an analyte that will react with an oxidase enzyme capable of reacting with oxygen to form hydrogen peroxide, consisting essentially of:

• a catalytic amount of the oxidized form of the oxidase enzyme;
• and
• a phenazine-containing compound that will react with the reduced form of the oxidase enzyme, the phenazine-containing compound being in sufficient amount to form a measurable, colored semiquinoid upon reaction of the phenazine-containing compound with the reduced form of the oxidase enzyme, thereby indicating the amount of the analyte,
• whereby the phenazine-containing compound functions as an indicator compound and not as a redox mediator.

A reagent for measuring the amount of an analyte that will react with the oxidized form of a dehydrogenase enzyme, thereby forming the reduced form oft he dehydrogenase enzyme, consisting essentially of:

• a catalytic amount of the oxidized form of the dehydrogenase enzyme;
• a catalytic amount of the oxidized form of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide;
• and
• a phenazine-containing compound that will react with the reduced form of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, the phenazine-containing compound being in sufficient amount to form a measurable, colored semiquinoid upon reaction of the phenazine-containing compound with the reduced form of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, thereby indicating the amount of the analyte,
• whereby the phenazine-containing compound functions as an indicator compound and not as a redox mediator.