Cytogenetic Biodosimetry in Radiation Emergency Medicine: 1. Blood Collection and Its Management

Abstract

Dose assessment is very important to triage exposed patients and to carry out efficient medical care and treatment in radiation emergency medicine. In cytogenetic biodosimetry, peripheral blood collected from exposed patients must be cultured to induce chromosome-analyzable metaphases in peripheral lymphocytes. Medical institutions that accept exposed patients must understand the time of blood sampling, choice of anticoagulant, temperature conditions for blood storage according to the type of anticoagulant and the method of blood transportation to the laboratory for biodosimetry. However, as medical institutions tend to have insufficient understanding on blood collection and shipment required for biodosimetry, this information must be provided to aid in reliable dose estimation. In addition, dose assessment requires some basic information from patients such as age, gender, smoking history, alcohol intake, underlying medical conditions and previous radiation exposures including occupational and medical exposure. The medical institution should also be prepared to provide such information to the biodosimetry laboratory. This article provides a summary of essential information from blood collection to blood transportation carried out by medical institutions for cytogenetic biodosimetry.