Preparation and properties of antibodies doubly labeled with tritium and fluorescein.

A method was developed to prepare doubly labeled antibodies whereby fluorescein-labeled antibodies were reacted with N-[ethyl-2-3H]ethylmaleimide. This tritiated conjugate exhibited the same immunoreactivity as the non-derivatized fluorescein-labeled antibody. This method provides a marker for immunocytochemical studies which takes advantage of the rapidity of fluorescent tracing combined with the stability and precision of the radioautography technique.