A process is disclosed for the detection of an analyte utilizing a nucleic acid label as a reporter. The analyte is detected by the binding of at least two reporter conjugates, each conjugate comprising a member of a binding pair and a nucleic acid label. The binding of the reporter conjugates to the analyte facilitates the juxtaposition of the nucleic acid labels, forming a single nucleic acid amplicon. The amplicon may then be detected directly, or may be used as a template of the generation of amplification products. Detection of the analyte by this process significantly reduces assay background caused by non-specific reporter conjugate binding.