A method is described in which anti-2-acetylaminofluorene immunoglobulins may be detected using a simple and sensitive screening procedure. The method is based on immunoglobulin binding of an 125I derivatized 2-aminofluorene radiotracer. Tracer binding is not isotype specific, and thus the method is useful for the detection of either IgG or IgA. Competitive binding experiments with the radiotracer were used to determine the specificity of immunoglobulin response by measurement of cross-reactivity with related ligands. This method allows quantitation of the immune response to the carcinogen in serum and other biological fluids (i.e., intestinal secretions).