Radiotracer or radioactive tracer refers to a radioactive isotope which is used as a tracer. The radioactive isotope is injected or introduced or attached to a physical or biological system in order to better understand its workings and process. The radioactive isotope can be traced by using devices that can be used in radiation devices. For instance a photographic film can be used to detect low intensity soft radiations. Nuclear Medicine is the field in which radioactive tracers are employed in a patient's care. In biomedical sciences the radionuclide primarily used are tritium, carbon-14 and phosphorous-32. These tracers can also be employed to determine the speed of a chemical process.
George de Hevesy is credited with having developed radioactive tracing. Another name for a radioactive tracer is radioactive label.
George de Hevesy is credited with having developed radioactive tracing. Another name for a radioactive tracer is radioactive label.
