Pitfalls in the use of chromosome aberration analysis for bilogical radiation dosimetry

The use of chromosomes as biological radiation dosimeters is a well-established and valuable technique, especially when physical methods are inadequate or not available. This technique has also been used in studies of lymphocyte kinetics (Sharpe, Dolphin, Dawson and Field, 1967; 1968). Peripheral blood lymphocytes are stimulated in culture to go into division and then arrested in mitosis with Colcemid. Radiation damage can be seen in the metaphase chromosomes and the amount of damage can be related to the dose of radiation (Bender and Gooch, 1962).