Abstract: Chloramphenicol derivatives are provided for use in preparing antigen conjugates for the production of antibodies specific for chloramphenicol. Specifically, the aryl group is derivatized with a side chain functionalized to provide for a carbonyl functionality to react with amino groups of a poly(amino acid). The conjugate is then injected into a vertebrate for production of antisera which are isolated in conventional ways and find particular use in competitive protein binding assays.