Which instrument is used in clinical laboratories to detect beta and gamma emissions?

Which instrument is used in clinical laboratories to detect beta and gamma emissions?

• A. Fluorometer
• B. Nephelometer
• C. Scintillation counter
• D. Spectrophotometer

Answer: (C)

Detecting ionizing radiation from beta and gamma emitters requires a detector that converts radiation into a measurable signal. A scintillation counter accomplishes this by using a scintillating material that emits light when a beta particle or gamma photon interacts with it. The emitted light is then detected by a photomultiplier tube and converted into electrical pulses that are counted, giving the activity of the sample. This setup is well-suited for measuring radiolabeled compounds and radiotracers used in clinical assays. In contrast, a fluorometer measures fluorescence from molecules excited by light, not from radioactive decay. A nephelometer gauges light scattering to assess particles in suspension, and a spectrophotometer measures how much light a sample absorbs at specific wavelengths; neither is designed to detect radioactive emissions directly.

Detecting ionizing radiation from beta and gamma emitters requires a detector that converts radiation into a measurable signal. A scintillation counter accomplishes this by using a scintillating material that emits light when a beta particle or gamma photon interacts with it. The emitted light is then detected by a photomultiplier tube and converted into electrical pulses that are counted, giving the activity of the sample. This setup is well-suited for measuring radiolabeled compounds and radiotracers used in clinical assays. In contrast, a fluorometer measures fluorescence from molecules excited by light, not from radioactive decay. A nephelometer gauges light scattering to assess particles in suspension, and a spectrophotometer measures how much light a sample absorbs at specific wavelengths; neither is designed to detect radioactive emissions directly.