Table 3.
Comparison of optical projection tomography and microCT
| OPT | microCT | |
|---|---|---|
| Specimen preparation | Involved | Easier |
| Imaging modality | White, infrared, ultraviolet | X-ray |
| Specimen size | 1.7 × 2.5 cm | 20 × 6.8 cm |
| Resolution | 1–35 μ | 9, 18, 35 μ |
| Scan timea | 5–20 min | 5–45 minutes |
| File sizea | 300 MB–2 GB | 600 MB–10 GB |
| Quantitative analysis | Yes | Yes |
| Postscan histology | Yes | Yes |
| Special stains possible | Yes | No |
| Expenseb | $120 000 | $300 000 |
OPT indicates optical projection tomography.
a
Scan time and file size depend upon size of specimen and desired resolution.
b
Approximate cost in U.S. dollars (includes scanner and supporting computer hardware and software).