NIT offers several distinctive properties that improve on radioactive and optical tracer technologies and afford life scientists greater diagnostic flexibility. They include the following.

• Multiple metallic labels allow many different probes to be measured simultaneously in a single sample.

• Stable-isotope labels are nonradioactive until exposed to the neutron beam.

• Neutrons are highly penetrating, so opaque samples may be assayed.

• Metallic labels allow long-term sample storage and also shipping at room temperature.

• Neutrons are nondestructive, so samples can be reassayed for data confirmation or at an increased assay level of sensitivity.

• Assay sensitivity can be increased by lengthening the neutron beam exposure time or neutron beam strength.