CABAS: a freely available PC program for fitting calibration curves in chromosome aberration dosimetry

Radiat Prot Dosimetry. 2007;124(2):115-23. doi: 10.1093/rpd/ncm137.

Abstract

The aim of biological dosimetry is to estimate the dose and the associated uncertainty to which an accident victim was exposed. This process requires the use of the maximum-likelihood method for fitting a calibration curve, a procedure that is not implemented in most statistical computer programs. Several laboratories have produced their own programs, but these are frequently not user-friendly and not available to outside users. We developed a software for fitting a linear-quadratic dose-response relationship by the method of maximum-likelihood and for estimating a dose from the number of aberrations observed. The program called as CABAS consists of the main curve-fitting and dose estimating module and modules for calculating the dose in cases of partial body exposure, for estimating the minimum number of cells necessary to detect a given dose of radiation and for calculating the dose in the case of a protracted exposure. The program is freely available at http://www.pu.kielce.pl/ibiol/cabas.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study

MeSH terms

  • Algorithms
  • Biological Assay / instrumentation
  • Biological Assay / methods
  • Biological Assay / standards
  • Chromosome Aberrations / drug effects*
  • Cytogenetic Analysis / instrumentation*
  • Cytogenetic Analysis / methods
  • Cytogenetic Analysis / standards*
  • Europe
  • Radiation Dosage
  • Radiometry / instrumentation*
  • Radiometry / methods
  • Radiometry / standards*
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Software*