Abstract: A detectable molecule of the formulaA.sup.3 --(--X--R.sup.1 --E--Det.sup.b).sub.mwhere A.sup.3 is A.sup.2 or a polymer, where A.sup.3 has at least one modifiable reactive group selected from the group consisting of amino, hydroxy, cis OH, halides, aryl, imidazoyl, carbonyl, carboxy, thiol or a residue comprising an activated carbon; --X-- is selected from the group consisting of ##STR1## --R.sup.1 -- is ##STR2## or a C.sub.1 -C.sub.10 branched or unbranched alkyl or aralkyl, which may be substituted by --OH; --Y-- is a direct bond to --E--, or --Y-- is --E--R.sup.2 -- where R.sup.2 is a C.sub.1 -C.sub.10 branched or unbranched alkyl; Z.sub.a is chlorine, bromine or iodine; E is O, NH or an acyclic divalent sulfur atom; Det.sup.b is a chemical moiety capable of being detected, preferably comprising biotin or a metal chelator of the formula: ##STR3## or the 4-hydroxy or acyloxy derivative thereof, where R.sup.3 is C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl or CH.sub.

Abstract: A method of forming a therapeutic or diagnostic agent labeled with a radioactive metal ion, which comprises: contacting an unlabeled therapeutic or diagnostic agent, consisting of a substantially non-metal chelating portion and a chelating portion capable of chelating with the radioactive metal ion, with an ion transfer material having the radioactive metal ion bound thereto and having a binding affinity for the radioactive metal less than the binding affinity of the chelating portion for the radioactive metal ion, wherein prior to contacting the chelating portion is unchelated or is chelated with a second metal having a binding affinity with the chelating portion less than the binding affinity of the radioactive metal ion, whereby a radiolabeled therapeutic or diagnostic agent is formed by the contacting, and separating the radiolabeled therapeutic or diagnostic agent from the ion transfer material, is disclosed along with various components and kits useful in practicing this method and several variations th