We present the results of our investigations into the use of soluble manganese(IV) as a chemiluminescence reagent, which include a significantly faster method of preparation and a study on the effect of formaldehyde and orthophosphoric acid concentration on signal intensity. Chemiluminescence detection was applied to the determination of 16 analytes, including opiate alkaloids, indoles and analytes of forensic interest, using flow injection analysis methodology. The soluble manganese(IV) reagent was less selective than either acidic potassium permanganate or tris(2,2'-bipyridyl)ruthenium(III) and therefore provided a more universal chemiluminescence detection system for HPLC. A broad spectral distribution with a maximum at 730+/-5nm was observed for the reaction between the soluble manganese(IV) and a range of analytes, as well as the background emission from the reaction with the formaldehyde enhancer. This spectral distribution matches that reported for chemiluminescence reactions with acidic potassium permanganate, where a manganese(II) emitting species was elucidated. This provides further evidence that the emission evoked in reactions with soluble manganese(IV) also emanates from a manganese(II) species, and not bimolecular singlet oxygen as suggested by previous authors.