Calibration and Measurement of Potassium-40 with a Whole-Body Counter

Total potassium content in the human body may be obtained by measuring naturally occurring radioactive potassium-40, in a whole-body counter. The basic problem in calibrating the whole-body counter is discussed, as well as a phantom that is used to solve this problem. The normal potassium levels for men and for women were determined. Two additional parameters - lean body mass and total body water - derived from the potassium content, were also calculated