From a single cell fusion, five stable hybridomas secreting antiapolipoprotein E (apo E) were obtained. The immunoglobulin (Ig)G subclasses containing the respective monoclonal antibodies were isolated and were used as the antibody component in a solid-phase radioimmunoassay. The binding of 125I-apo E to the insolubilized antibody was inhibited by unlabeled apo E but not by unlabeled apoproteins A-I, A-II, C-II, and C-III, or by low density lipoprotein immunodepleted of endogenous apo E. Competition curves were obtained with lipoprotein subfractions that had the same shape as those obtained with purified apo E. Apo E levels in normal and hyperlipidemic plasma were well correlated when measured by the five monoclonal antibodies and polyclonal anti-apo E, although differences in absolute values were observed. In normal subjects 34, 10, 20, and 36% of apo E was recovered in the very low density lipoprotein, low density lipoprotein, high density lipoprotein, and the d greater than 1.21-gl/ml fractions, respectively, whereas these values were 34, 7, 12, and 47%, respectively, in type III patients. All antibodies indicated the same subfraction distribution of apo E. The monoclonal antibodies reacted with all of the isomorphs of apo E. One of the antibodies could be clearly distinguished by its reactivity with chemically modified very low density lipoprotein.