The unbiased estimation of number and sizes of arbitrary particles using the disector.

A three-dimensional counting rule and its integral test system, the disector, for obtaining unbiased estimates of the number of arbitrary particles in a specimen is presented. Used in combination with ordinary and recently developed stereological methods unbiased estimates of various mean particle sizes and the variance of particle volume are obtainable on sets of two parallel sections with a known separation. The same principle allows the unbiased estimation of the distribution of individual particle volumes in sets of serial sections.