Detection of radioactivity on microtiterplates in situ using a photon-counting imager

A position-sensitive single-photon counting imaging system, which can determine intensity and location of a light source, has been used for the detection of 125I-labeled Interleukin-1 and [3H]thymidine in 96 wells of a microtiter plate (MTP) simultaneously. 4 Bq (1 Bq = 1 Bequerel = 1 disintegration/s), 22 and 150 Bq of 125I and 3, 10 and 100 Bq of 3H were visualized and quantified by transforming the radioactivity into light in the visible range by means of Xtalscint, a solid scintillator. After only 1 min of photon accumulation time, the highest radioactivity of both isotopes could be clearly distinguished from background. Photon counts correlate well with radioactivity measured in a beta-counter (for 3H) and a gamma-counter (for 125I). The overall counting efficiency was about 5% for 125I and 3% for 3H.