Proficiency tests for radionuclide laboratories supporting the network of IMS stations》.pdf

ARTICLE IN PRESS Applied Radiation and Isotopes 61 (2004) 415–419 Proficiency tests for radionuclide laboratories supportin gthe network of IMS stations $ Paula Karhua,*, Simon M. Jeromeb a CTBTO/PTS, VIC, P.O. Box 1200, Vienna A-1400, Austria b National Physical Laboratory, Centre for Ionising Radiation Metrology, Queens Road, Teddington, Middlesex TW11 0LW, UK Abstract A tailored proficiency test programme in high-resolution g-spectrometric analysis has been established for the radionuclide laboratories designated to support the verification of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT). It entails certified reference samples that contain fission products relevant to the CTBT. The sample geometries and materials correspond to aerosol filter samples from the high-volume samplers of the radionuclide stations of the International Monitorin gSystem (IMS) and the related calibration sources are matrix and geometry matched to the reference samples. r 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Keywords: Proficiency test; Radionuclide laboratories; CTBT; IMS 1. Introduction themselves, with their high-volume samplers and HPGe detector systems, achieve low detection limits (Minimum Sixteen radionuclide laboratories have been desig- Detectable Concentration (MDC) for 140Ba below nated in the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty 10 mBq/m3 for a blank sample), the laboratories can (CTBT) to support the network of radionuclide stations offer