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 various processing steps to obtain images even more quickly. Differences in densitometric characteristics and spatial resolution between abbreviated rapid processing (ARP) and complete rapid processing were examined in four rapid manual processing systems on D- and E-speed film. When compared with films processed conventionally in an automatic processor, films processed in rapid manual processing chemistries had more fog and generally lower levels of speed and contrast. ARP radiographs were excessively stained unless they were washed for at least 60 s after fixing. The most severe depreciation in ARP film quality occurred when developing time was reduced by 50%; the complete rapid processing developing time should always be used. E-speed films produced radiographs with comparable densitometric and resolution characteristics to D-speed films for ARP and complete rapid processing techniques while requiring 40% less radiation.