THE USE OF TWO RADIOACTIVE ISOTOPES OF IRON IN TRACER STUDIES OF ERYTHROCYTES 1

Open Access
Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Two radioactive isotopes of iron, Fe59 (47 day half life) and Fe55 (5 year half life), are produced separately and obtained in a state of radioactive purity. These isotopes are prepared in the form of ferric ammonium citrate for intraven. injn. into human subjects. The radioactive doses in donors and recipients are well below the accepted tolerance limits. Blood and tissue samples are prepared for radioactivity measurement by wet ashing and electroplating on copper planchets. Routine measurements are reported in terms of "Unit Activity" (ratio of sample to an aliquot of the original activity) thus eliminating corrections for decay during expts. Geiger-Miiller counters are described that permit of differential measurement of both isotopes in the same sample.
Keywords