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Updated: Mar 28, 2026
Expedited Radiation Biodosimetry by Automated Dicentric Chromosome Identification ADCI and Dose Estimation
Published on: September 4, 2017
High-Throughput Automated Construction and Validation of Dicentric Chromosome and Micronucleus Biodosimetry
Mengyun Wu1, Haojun Li2, Huadong Zhang1
1Radiology Laboratory, Department of Occupational Health and Radiological Health, Chongqing Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Chongqing, China.
Objectives:
Develop a high-throughput, fully automated workflow for dicentric chromosome and micronucleus assays to enable rapid, accurate radiation dose estimation in radiological or nuclear emergencies.
Methods:
Blood from four healthy donors was irradiated (0-5.00 Gy, 137Cs γ-rays), repaired for 2 h at 37°C, and processed via an integrated platform (Chromprep + Metafer 4 + LS-CAS). Dicentric chromosomes (per 100 cells) and micronucleus (per 1,000 cells) were automatically scored. Dose-response data fitted to a quadratic model and validated using blinded samples with 95% confidence intervals accounting for Poisson statistics and curve uncertainty.
Results:
The automated dose-response curves for chromosome aberrations and micronuclei are y=8.4642x2-3.7786x+1.5439 and y=23.348x2+60.469x-1.6856, respectively. Calibration curves showed excellent fit (R 2=0.997 fordicentric chromosome; R 2=0.996 formicronucleus). All validation doses fell within estimated confidence intervals. The system achieved end-to-end automation with minimal human intervention while maintaining high accuracy and reproducibility.
Conclusion:
This workflow provides a standardized, scalable, and reliable solution for rapid biodosimetry in mass-casualty radiological incidents, effectively bridging laboratory capacity and real-world emergency response needs.
