DENSITOMETRIC PROPERTIES OF RAPID MANUAL PROCESSING SOLUTIONS - ABBREVIATED VERSUS COMPLETE RAPID PROCESSING

Rapid manual processing solutions produce wet, readable radiographs in 1 to 2 min. However, some manufacturers permit time reductions for va rious processing steps to obtain images even more quickly. Differences in densitometric characteristics and spatial resolution between abbre viated rapid processing (ARP) and complete rapid processing were exami ned in four rapid manual processing systems on D- and E-speed film. Wh en compared with films processed conventionally in an automatic proces sor, films processed in rapid manual processing chemistries had more f og and generally lower levels of speed and contrast. ARP radiographs w ere excessively stained unless they were washed for at least 60 s afte r fixing. The most severe depreciation in ARP film quality occurred wh en developing time was reduced by 50%; the complete rapid processing d eveloping time should always be used. E-speed films produced radiograp hs with comparable densitometric and resolution characteristics to D-s peed films for ARP and complete rapid processing techniques while requ iring 40% less radiation.