Methods and compounds for producing specific antibodies

In the method of assaying for the presence and quantity of a hapten or an antigen employing radiation-based immunoassaying, the improvement which comprises producing antibodies which are specific for native homologous hapten or antigen comprising (1) administering to an animal an antibody producing dose of an artificial antigen wherein an immunogenic carrier is bound to a hapten through a ring atom of the hapten by replacement of a biologically inactive substituent, where such substituent is not a determinant, in such manner as to leave the determinant functional groups of said hapten free, (2) obtaining a crude mixture containing antibodies from said animal, (3) isolating antibodies from said crude mixture, (4) and employing said antibodies in a radiation-based immunoassay together with a radiation label, whereby the amount of said antibodies reacting with the hapten or antigen can be measured.