Abstract
The potassium contents of 13 men and 12 women have been estimated by measuring the rate of emission from the body of γ-rays from the natural radioisotope 40K. Measurements were made with two whole-body radiation counters. The counting-rates from each subject were measured before and after an oral dose of 42K. From these observations a calibration factor, F (gK/count per min), and an estimate of body potassium, were calculated for each counter. The observed differences in the pairs of potassium estimates may occur because 42K is not completely in equilibrium with the natural potassium in the body at the time of the second measurement, which was made 18-23 hours after administration of the dose. The calibration factor, F, varies with the weight W, and height H, of the subject, and the regression coefficients of F on W, on W and H, on (W/H) and on (W/H)1/2 have been calculated. The regression formulae can be used to predict the values of F for any subject of known height and weight.

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