Nickel(ii) tetrasulfophthalo-cyanine (NiTSPc) could be electrodeposited onto an indium tin oxide (ITO) electrode to form an electropolymerization film of NiTSPc. The electrochemiluminescent (ECL) behavior of bis-[3,4,6-trichloro-2-(pentyloxy-carbonyl)-phenyl] oxalate (BTPPO) on this modified electrode was investigated in detail. The emission of ECL of BTPPO can be greatly enhanced by hydrogen peroxide at this modified electrode. Thus, a new ECL biosensor for uric acid was developed based on the enzymatic reaction of uric acid in the presence of uricase to produce H(2)O(2). The developed sensor has been used to detect uric acid in real serum samples, and the results compared well with those obtained by the routine method.