Antibodies produced in the primary response to the hapten 2-phenyloxazolone (OX) express a cross-reactive idiotype in BALB/c and DBA/2 mice. We studied the response in hyperimmunized mice, using ascites produced after multiple immunizations with an OX conjugate and by generating monoclonal antibodies. A competitive radioimmunoassay was developed using a rabbit anti-idiotype antiserum raised against purified hyperimmune anti-OX antibodies. Mice from strains including CBA, C3H/He and B10.BR expressed all the determinants found in BALB/c serum, although at a lower titre. C57BL/6 mice, however, only expressed some of the BALB/c determinants. We isolated a monoclonal antibody, 1F9, which expressed some of the determinants found in BALB/c serum. All the cross-reactive idiotopes expressed on 1F9 were also expressed in the above strains including C57BL/6. Almost every BALB/c anti-OX antibody also expressed the 1F9 determinants. There are thus determinants of the BALB/c OX idiotype which are expressed in a number of different strains previously thought to be negative for the idiotype.