Automated radioautographic grain counting. Correction for grain overlap.

An algorithm is described for the calculation of radioautographic cell grain count from measurements of total cell nuclear area and total grain area. This algorithm provides a statistical correction for grain overlap that is based on the solution to the occupancy problem in probability theory. This method permits the use of automated grain counting over a wide range of grain counts per cell, and extends the useful dynamic range of radioautographic grain counting to well over 200 grains/cell.