Automatic self-correcting calibration method for arterial blood sampling detectors used in PET imaging

Routine calibration of on-line arterial blood detectors used primarily for PET blood flow studies while necessary is time consuming and if performed frequently, exposes staff to unnecessary levels of radiation. A method has been developed and implemented to account for changes in detector sensitivity over time and for variations in the diameters of tubes used to withdraw blood. The method is most applicable to positron detectors but can also be used for gamma systems. Errors are reduced from +/-5% to less than 1%.