Liquid Scintillation counter for radiotracer studies

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This RTI application is for an automatic ß-counter that is crucially important for three highly successful and NSERC Discovery funded research programs of Professors Dr. Greg Goss, Dr. Chris Glover, and Dr. George Owttrim. Scintillation counting of radioactive ß -particles is one of the most sensitive methods of detection and the use of radioactive tracers is a fundamental component of each of the three-above-mentioned programs in animal or plant physiology. The researchers currently use an old Beckman LS-6500 ß-counter, first purchased in 1993, and this instrument has recently broken down. Similar failures in 2012 and 2010, the associated service costs, and the lack of availability of parts highlight the need for a new instrument, especially given it is essential to each of these programs. We require the requested equipment in our labs because we use techniques whose sensitivity requirements cannot be replaced by non-radioactive methods. Without a functional and reliable ß-counter, the continuance of NSERC (and other agency) funded research programs for Drs. Goss, Glover and Owttrim will be fatally hampered, including the research programs for a large number of HQP students and PDFs associated with these programs. The Hitachi AccuFLEX LSC-8000 liquid scintillation ß- counter (see Justification of equipment selected) provides significant advantages over the Perkin-Elmer machine with respect to sample handling and provision of a substantial and continuous reduction of liquid radioactive fluor and plastic production, in addition to the cost differential. In summary, the AccuFLEX LSC-8000 will meet the current requirements of the co-applicants and also potential use by future hires for the foreseeable future.