Specificity of antisera raised against estradiol using new hapten-carrier conjugates.

Three new hapten-carrier conjugates were prepared from the 6α-, 6β-, and 7α-hydroxyestradiol monohemisuccinates by coupling with bovine serum albumin employing the mixed anhydride technique. The specificity of antiestradiol antisera elicited in the rabbit by immunization with each of these antigens was assessed by testing the crossreaction with the closely related steroids. The results indicated that highly specific antisera to estradiol would be produced by antigen whose steroidal moiety is coupled to a protein through the 6α, 6β or 7α position remote from the inherent functional groups.