Abstract
In biological dosimetry, the scoring of metaphases and the frequency of chromosome aberrations, particularly dicentric chromosomes, are critical for estimating unknown absorbed radiation doses. Dicentric chromosomes are a key biomarker in acute radiation exposure. However, dose estimates can vary between laboratories due to inconsistency in scoring and process of metaphase analysis1). To address these challenges, dif ferent cytogenetic staining techniques can be used to improve the accuracy and ef ficiency of dicentric detection. Alternative methods to Giemsa, such as PNAFISH, though accurate, are costly and time-intensive for slide processing, and C-banding requires hazardous chemicals and prolonged slide aging. Here, we report on the development of a rapid C-banding method and compare it with other staining methods. The study compared techniques including Giemsa, PNA-FISH for centromere and telomere staining, and the improved C-banding.
Preliminary results indicated that Giemsa staining required the longest time to score metaphases, while C-banding and PNA-FISH significantly reduced scoring time. The scorer tended to find more dicentrics in Giemsa-stained slides, which could indicate misclassification. The findings suggest that the rapid C-banding could offer a cost-effective solution for minimizing variability in dicentric frequency.
