A signal-to-noise ratio analysis of an autoradiographic image enhancement process

A signal-to-noise ratio(SNR) analysis of a S-35 thiourea autoradiographic image enhancement process incorporating subproportional bleaches is performed, with emphasis on diagnostic medical Imagery. Quantifying SNR through a spatial frequency definition of DQE and NEQ, these metrics were compared between donor and receiver-composite stages. While improvements in radiometric speed and gamma were noted in the receiver-composite, these gains were more than offset in a SNR sense by correspondingly lower MTF and higher Wiener spectrum values. As a result the donor\u27s DQF_max of .30 exceeded that of the receiver-composite\u27s DQE_max by 50%. Similarly, ImCXA the donor\u27s NEQ_max exceeded that of the receiver composite\u27s by 350%. The donor\u27s DQE and NEQ continued to exceed that of the receiver-composite even on an equi -exposure basis