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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Microcurie is not a nickname. Radiation is measured
in "curies", or, if the radiation is in a low dose, in "microcuries". (Similar
to how distance is measured in "meters", or if in very small distances,
"micrometers".) </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>A curie is equal to 3.70 x 10(10) (That's 10
to the 10th power = 10 billion) disintegrations per second. If you remember,
radioactive chemicals decay/disintegrate, by emitting particles/radiation from
their atomic nucleus (proton/neutrons), and eventually turn into a
non-radioactive new chemical.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>The curies unit of measure therefore applies
to any radioactive chemical, such as uranyl acetate, which is used in EM, or
could be used with measuring the amount of radiation given off by the
radioactive "dyes" used in sentinel lymph nodes, or the radioactive seeds found
in prostates that have had brachytherapy.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>(In case you are wondering, it was named after
Madame Curie, who discovered radium.)</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Peggy A. Wenk, HTL(ASCP)SLS</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>William Beaumont Hospital</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Royal Oak, MI 48073</FONT></DIV>
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style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=Histolady710@aol.com
href="mailto:Histolady710@aol.com">Histolady710@aol.com</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A
title=histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu
href="mailto:histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu">histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu</A>
</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Thursday, September 25, 2003 5:06
PM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> [Histonet] HT (ASCP) Exam</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV><FONT face=arial,helvetica><FONT lang=0
style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff" face="Arial Greek" size=2
FAMILY="SANSSERIF">Question ! What chemical is nicknamed
"Microcurie"? This question is being asked on the HT (ASCP) Exam.
Thanks for your help !</FONT> </FONT></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>