Digital image processing

Gene

Image (mathematics)

Optics

Physics

Data mining

Densitometry

Artificial intelligence

Pixel

Chemistry

Sample (material)

Programming language

Western blot

Software

Scanner

Image analysis

Computer vision

Background subtraction

Computer science

Chromatography

Biochemistry

Image processing

Quantitative analysis (chemistry)

Journal of Immunological Methods

Since its first description, Western blot has been widely used in molecular labs. It constitutes a multistep method that allows the detection and/or quantification of proteins from simple to complex protein mixtures. Western blot quantification method constitutes a critical step in order to obtain accurate and reproducible results. Due to the technical knowledge required for densitometry analysis together with the resources availability, standard office scanners are often used for the imaging acquisition of developed Western blot films. Furthermore, the use of semi-quantitative software as ImageJ (Java-based image-processing and analysis software) is clearly increasing in different scientific fields. In this work, we describe the use of office scanner coupled with the ImageJ software together with a new image background subtraction method for accurate Western blot quantification. The proposed method represents an affordable, accurate and reproducible approximation that could be used in the presence of limited resources availability.

A new background subtraction method for Western blot densitometry band quantification through image analysis software