To produce a just perceptible increase in receptor exposure, the radiographer should increase the?

To achieve a just perceptible increase in receptor exposure, increasing the milliampere-seconds (mAs) by approximately 30% is considered effective. This is because mAs directly influences the quantity of x-ray photons produced during the exposure. A 30% increase in mAs results in a significant change to the overall exposure that the detector receives, leading to improved receptor exposure that is noticeable.

In contrast, while other options might alter receptor exposure, they do so in different ways or amounts. A smaller increase in the mAs, such as 15%, may not be sufficient to yield a noticeable change in exposure levels. Similarly, increasing kilovoltage (kV) will also affect exposure but does so by enhancing the penetration capability of the x-rays, which complicates the impact on the receptor exposure and does not provide the same direct correlation as mAs adjustments. Thus, the approach of using a 30% increase in mAs is widely recognized for achieving a perceptible change in receptor exposure effectively.