A technique for detecting the presence or quantity of an enzyme (or enzyme
inhibitor) and/or an amine within a test sample is provided. For example,
in one embodiment, a diagnostic test kit is employed that utilizes
reactive complexes that each includes a substrate joined (e.g.,
covalently bonded, physically adsorbed, etc.) to a reporter and a
separation species. Upon contacting the reactive complexes, enzymes may
cleave the substrate and release the reporter. Moreover, the test kit may
also employ a chemichromic dye, i.e., a dye that exhibits a detectable
color change upon chemical reaction with one or more functional groups,
such as amino groups. The signal generated (directly or indirectly) by
the reporter and chemichromic dye may then be used to indicate the
presence or quantity of an enzyme (or enzyme inhibitor) and amine,
respectively, within the test sample.