Two hybridization assays have been developed to detect BCR-ABL mRNA transcripts arising from the Philadelphia translocation. Both assays use time-resolved immunofluorometric detection of polymerase chain reaction-amplified BCR-ABL mRNA sequences hybridized to specific probes. In configuration I, biotinylated amplified target is immobilized onto streptavidin-coated wells and hybridized to a probe labeled with the hapten digoxigenin. Hybrids are detected via an alkaline phosphatase-labeled antibody and fluorosalicylyiphosphate as substrate. The fluorosalicylate produced forms highly fluorescent complexes with Tb3-EDTA. In configuration II, biotinylated probe is immobilized onto streptavidincoated wells. PCR, performed in the presence of haptenlabeled deoxyribonucleotide, generates labeled product, which is hybridized to immobilized probe and quantified as above. BCR-ABL transcripts from one leukemic cell amidst mRNA from 500 000 normal granulocytes are detectable with signal/background ratios as high as 36.4 and 24.6 for configurations I and II, respectively. The respective CVs for the assays were 6.6-9.0% and 5.1- 12.5%.