[Use of whole-body counters for iron resorption and blood loss measurements]

It is reported on the methodology of nuclear-medical investigations of the iron metabolism with the help of a whole body counter. At first the construction of the whole body counter is briefly explained. The whole body counter installed in the nuclear-medical clinic of the St adtisches Klinikum Berlin- Buch consists of two NaJ (Tl)-crystal detectors which are arranged in a steel screening chamber above and below a patient's couch. By measurement of the total body retention of 59Fe by means of the whole body counter the intestinal iron absorption can simply and easily be determined under physiological conditions. The total body measuring technique furthermore allows the recognition of the dynamic total body distribution of 59Fe by recording of longitudinal profiles of the body. Furthermore it is reported on the measuring method for the quantitative determination of blood losses by means of the whole body counter. Finally the author briefly deals with the radiation exposure of the patient in the investigations with 59Fe at the whole body counter.