This paper critically reviews analytical applications of the chemiluminescence from tris( 2,2'-bipyridyl) ruthenium( II) and related compounds published in the open literature between mid-1998 and October 2005. Following the introduction, which summarises the reaction chemistry and reagent generation, the review divides into three major sections that focus on: ( i) the techniques that utilise this type of detection chemistry, ( ii) the range of analytes that can be determined, and ( iii) analogues and derivatives of tris( 2,2'-bipyridyl) ruthenium( II).