N-Succinimidyl 4-hydroxy-3-[131I]iodobenzoate ([131I]SHIB) was synthesized from 4-hydroxybenzoic acid in two steps. The overall radiochemical yield was 40-56%. A monoclonal antibody (mAb) was labeled in 10-15% yield by reaction with [131I]SHIB. The specific binding of [131I]SHIB mAb to tumor homogenates in vivo was 78 +/- 3%, compared to 84 +/- 3% for the same mAb labeled using N-succinimidyl 3-[125I]iodobenzoate ([125I]SIB). Paired-label studies in normal mice demonstrated similar tissue distributions of 131I and 125I except in thyroid. In thyroid, uptake of the two isotopes was similar on day 1; however, 131I levels increased gradually to 2-3 times those of 125I by day 6. Our results indicate that loss of label in vivo from mAbs labeled using SHIB is somewhat higher than seen with SIB but significantly lower than that observed when direct iodination methods are used.