Storage phosphor imaging plates for autoradiography

The authors have evaluated the use of photostimulable storage phosphor imaging plates as a substitute for X-ray film in the visualization of radioactive patterns on electrophoresis and Southern blots. Previously published results have shown the technique to have superior sensitivity, linearity and dynamic range when compared to film. Using a commercial instrument they have employed both artificially generated patterns labeled radioactively with 32P ink and Southern blots probed with 32P in order to systematically evaluate this technique for mapping applications. They present results of quantitative comparisons of autoradiographs obtained with these standards using imaging plates and photographic film. Advantages and disadvantages of the phosphor image plate approach are discussed. In addition, the application of the method to imaging of extremely low activity level samples is addressed