Peroxidase-catalyzed oxidation of 2,2-azino-di(3-ethyl-benzthiazolydine-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) and 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) is activated by tetrazole and its 5-substituted derivatives--5-amino-(AmT), 5-methyl- (MeT), 5-phenyl- (PhT), and 5-CF3- (CF3-T) tetrazoles. In phosphate-citrate or phosphate buffer (pH 6.4 or 7.2; 20 degrees C), the activating effect of tetrazoles on TMB and ABTS oxidation decreased in the series AmT > MeT > T > PhT > CF3-T and T > AmT > MeT > PhT, respectively. The (coefficient) degree of activation (alpha), expressed in M(-1), determined for both substrates and all activators, depended on substrate type, buffer nature, and pH (it increased as pH increased from 6.4 to 7.2). For TMB oxidation, good correlation between lgalpha and the Hammet constants sigma(meta) for m-substituents in the benzene series NH2, CH3, C6H5, and CF3 was found. It is suggested that AmT, MeT, and T can be used as activators of peroxidase-catalyzed oxidation of TMB and ABTS, as well as in designing peroxidase-based biosensors.