High-performance digital image analyzer for quantitative autoradiography.

A digital image-processing system was developed for high-spatial resolution analysis of autoradiograms. The system uses a linear array of charge-coupled devices operating under computer control to scan and digitize autoradiograms into 512 X 512 matrices with 256 gray levels. Software was developed to facilitate quantitative analysis of autoradiograms produced in single- and multiple-tracer studies. Because of the high output, linearity, and accuracy of the solid-state detectors, the system was found to digitize autoradiograms significantly more precisely and accurately than previously described video camera- or photomultiplier tube-based scanning densitometers.