Abstract: Recently, we have developed an electrochemiluminescence-polymerase chain reaction (ECL-PCR) method for point mutation detection. In this method, the target gene was amplified by a Ru(bpy)32+ (TBR)-labeled forward and a biotinylated reverse primer, and then followed by digestion with a kind of restriction enzyme, which only cut the wild-type (or mutant) amplicon containing its recognition site. Reaction products were detected by electrochemiluminescence (ECL) assay after adsorption of the resulting DNA duplexes to the solid phase. One strand of PCR products carries biotin to be bound on a streptavidin-coated microbead for sample selection. Another strand carries TBR to react with tripropylamine (TPA) and emit light for ECL detection. The method was applied to detect the point mutation in presenilin-1 and H-ras genes. The two genotypes were clearly discriminated. In summary, the mutant specific ECL-PCR method can be used to detect a point mutation that creates or destroys a restriction site in any gene. It is useful in point mutation detection due to its sensitivity, rapidness, simplicity and safety.