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Updated: Aug 14, 2026

Phase Contrast and Differential Interference Contrast (DIC) Microscopy
Published on: August 7, 2008
Contrast effect of blood on phase-contrast X-ray imaging
Rationale And Objectives:
As a preliminary study for application of phase-contrast X-ray imaging to medicine, we measured the X-ray refractive index of human blood and its influence on image contrast.
Methods:
Using an X-ray interferometer, the X-ray phase shifts caused by human blood and its ingredients were measured from the interval of interference fringes.
Results:
The X-ray phase shift caused by blood was 3% larger than that caused by serum.
Conclusion:
The large phase shift caused by blood is due to red blood cells, which contain hemoglobin molecules with iron atoms. It is possible that blood produces a structure in a phase-contrast X-ray image.
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