The detection of tritium-labeled ligands and their carrier proteins using a multiwire proportional counter

Two-dimensional immunoelectrophoresis combined with autoradiography is a powerful technique for studying the binding of radiolabeled ligands to their carrier proteins. Tritium-labeled compounds are difficult to detect by autoradiography, yet this isotope is often the radiolabel of choice, because it is possible to achieve high specific activity with no loss of biological function. Therefore an electronic detection system called a multiwire proportional counter has been investigated. This has resulted in an increase in detection speed for tritium of several thousand fold over conventional autoradiography and furthermore the results are potentially quantitative.