Microchannel plate detectors for /sup 14/C autoradiography

We describe a new type of detector for digital autoradiography which combines high sensitivity, useful detecting area (93/spl times/93 mm) and good spatial resolution (<100 /spl mu/m). This instrument is suitable, inter alia, for imaging beta-emitting whole body thin tissue slices. Measured detector sensitivity and linearity derived from images of a /sup 14/C Standard are presented. We also describe results from (i) a /sup 14/C labelled rat whole body slice showing selective radiopharmaceutical uptake in clearly identifiable organs and (ii) /sup 14/C-Tamoxifen doped semi-thin tissue sections of rat womb and liver.