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Haptens

Haptens are small foreign molecules that cannot by themselves induce antibody formation. However, if attached to macromolecules they can elicit the formation of a specific antibody.

The attached molecule is called a haptenic determinant, and the molecule to which it is attached is called a carrier. The dinitrophenyl group (DNP) is very effective in eliciting the formation of antibodies, and is used experimentally as a haptenic determinant.