2101 What is the structural difference between IP for 3H and multi-purpose IP? There are two kinds of IPs for detection of RI: TR-IP and multi-purpose IP. In addition, there is ND-IP for neutron detection. Multi-purpose IP can detect and measure all the RI except 3H. TR-IP can detect 3H as well as other elements that can be detected with multi-purpose IP. The difference between the two types of IP is the layer structure. TR-IP does not have the protection layer and has thinner photostimulable phosphor layer than the multi-purpose IP. 2102 Is the usage of 3H IP different from that of the multi-purpose IP? Multi-purpose IPs are intended to be used repeatedly. Therefore, in order to prevent radioactive and other contamination of IP, samples must be completely wrapped with e.g. Saranwrap. When exposing a 3H-labeled sample on TR-IP, samples must not be wrapped but put directly on the detection surface because the energy of beta-ray of 3H is too weak to pass through Saranwrap. Since samples are directly contacting on TR-IP, the radioactivity from the samples is wholly or partially transferred to the IP surface. IP after the exposure, therefore, must be handled as radioactive contaminated object. Also, due to the remaining radioactivity transferred to the IP surface after the first use, the image from the first exposure might be recognized vaguely overlapping the second image as if there is an after-image. So, to obtain a perfect result, it can be used only once. Practically, if the sample is small, the used part can be markerd and the same IP can be used repeatedly by using other parts of the IP. 2103 Can 3H IP be used for RI autoradiographies other than 3H? Yes it can be used for detection and measurement of RI’s other than 3H. In such case, there are two kinds of usage. One is the same as the usage of multi-purpose IP in which the sample is completely wrapped with e.g. Saranwrap when exposing. Therefore, the IP can be repeatedly used. Another usage method is the same as exposing 3H labeled sample, i.e., exposure is done directly to the detection surface of IP without wrapping the sample. In this case, the IP after exposure must be treated in the same way of the IP used for exposure of 3H labeled samples. In the latter method, the resolution of images increases because there is no space between the sample surface and the photostimulable phosphor layer (that contributes the most to radioactivity detection among all other structural layers of IP). The degree of resolution increase depends on the conditions of RI sample and exposure. 2104 Does touching the surface of 3H IP cause a functional damage unlike 3H film. The functions of 3H IP does not get damaged when its prespiration is touched by hands, although it is necessary to ware gloves to prevent the grease or other substance from transferring to the surface. Emulsion layer of 3H film is too weak to be processed in a roller-type automatic film processor while almost all the automatic film processors for X-ray film are of this type. When used in such a film processor, a bat phenomenon occurs to the film and emulsion touched by hands or tweezers comes off. So, using 3H IP instead of 3H film can avoid these risks. 2105 Is BAS-TR IP sensitive to beta ray, X-ray and gamma rays other than 3H? BAS-TR IP is also sensitive to beta ray, X-ray, gamma ray and alpha rays in addition to 3H. 2201 Is 3H IP expensive? Some say that 3H IP is too expensive because it is not reusable. However, the difference between BAS-SR IP is removal of the protective layer. Main photostimulable phosphor layer is the same. 2202 What is a “RI saving effect” of 3H IP? Since 3H IP has high sensitivity and high linearity, the amount of 3H labeling reagent necessary for an experiment can be reduced dramatically. The reduction in the reagent cost by this effect is sometimes higher than the price of 3H IP. 2203 It is said 3H IP can make some impossible things possible. What are they? 3H IP is often used for detecting and quantifying weak samples that can be imaged after as long as 4 weeks of exposure. Actually in one case, a sample was imaged after 10 months of exposure. Imaging or quantitation of such weak samples is impossible without 3H IP. 2204 What kind of “time-saving effect” did TR-IP bring? We have received a lot of reports that TR-IP made it possible to finish within a day the experiment that usually takes 2 weeks by film for detection and measurement. Usually a series of experiments takes 6 to 12 months because the next experiment is planned after obtaining the result from the current experiment, but TR-IP accelerates the progress of a study. 2301 Why is the quality-assurance of 3H IP limited to once? Since the energy of beta-ray of 3H is too weak to penetrate the wrapped sample, it is presupposed that samples are directly contacting the IP surface while exposure. Therefore, the IP surface could have been contaminated by RI due to the direct contact with the sample containing RI. If the TR-IP is contaminated, the contamination will also be imaged in the second and later usages. 2302 How about reusing the IP part that was not used for exposure in the first use? It is sufficiently reusable. Personally, when I expose small samples, I mark on the IP surface to discern the used parts. It is necessary to erase the previous data on IP before reusing and such IP must be treated as contaminated. In order not to contaminate the IP eraser, wrap the used IP before erasing. 2303 Is it always the case that TR IP gets contaminated? Empirically, when using a dried gel as sample, contamination rarely occurs or is very slight. However, it is almost always the case that contamination occurs when using tissue samples. In case of the tissue section containing 3H, the previous sample is imaged after the same period of exposure with 1/10 of imaging intensity. 2401 When conducting autoradiography of 3H-labeled sample using BAS-TR IP, would a sensitizer such as Amersham's Amplify used for film make the experiment more effective? Sensitizer has a negative effect on the autoradiography using BAS-TR IP. Films are much more sensitive to blue light than to beta ray. Sensitizer converts a part of beta ray energy into blue light in order to increase the film sensitivity. IP however has low sensitivity to blue light and rather work on erasing direction. Therefore, it is better not to use sensitizer in autoradiography using BAS-TR IP. 2601 What is Neutron Detection IP? Neutron Detection IP has the photostimulable phosphor layer, a mixture of neutron converter and the photo stimulated luminescence substance that is the major consistent of general IP, in order to detect and quantify neutron effectively. The neutron converter absorbs neutron effectively and emits secondary radiation and this secondary radiation is detected by the photo stimulable phosphor. This IP is currently called BAS-ND IP that adopts Gd203 as the neutron converter and the ratio of neutron converter and photo stimulable phosphor is 1:1. 2602 What is the difference between the usages of Neutron Detection IP and general-purpose IP? Unlike general purpose IP, ND IP would be exposed to neutron but reading process is the same as general purpose IP. However, we must be careful when activating IP. Autoradiography is rare in the exposure process but the neutron radiography and neutron radiation diffraction are often conducted. 2603 Is Neutron Detection IP only sensitive to neutron? How about beta ray, X-ray and gamma rays? ND IP is sensitive to beta ray, X-ray, gamma-ray and alpha rays in addition to neutron. In order to detect only neutron, it is necessary to avoid the influence of gamma ray. To IMAGING PLATE