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Summary
The Radiological Traceability Testing Program (RTP) is a testing program that helps the Radiological and Environmental Sciences Laboratory (RESL), the Department of Energy’s (DOE) reference laboratory, establish and demonstrate traceability to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).
Description
The RTP provides an annual exchange of testing samples between NIST and RESL. It is designed to provide a mechanism to evaluate the ability of RESL scientists to prepare testing samples containing known activities of various radionuclides (Table 1), and to analyze samples of unknown activities.
Table 1. Radionuclides for the Radiological Traceability Program
| Nuclides | Category |
|---|---|
| U-238, U-234, Pu-238, Pu- 239/240, Am-241, Np-237 | Alpha Emitting Radionuclides |
| H-3, Sr-90 | Beta Emitting Radionuclides |
| Cs-137, Cs-134, Co-60, Mn-54, Co-57, Zn-65 | Gamma Emitting Radionuclides |
| I-125, I-131 | Isotopically Pure Radionuclides |
The objective of the Program is to evaluate measurement capabilities of the DOE RESL to comply with the ANSI N42.22 and N42.23 standards. RESL is the designated reference laboratory for DOE and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) Radiological Measurement Assurance Program (RMAP). As defined in ANSI N42.23-1996, RESL serves as a secondary reference laboratory to NIST through the RTP. In this role, DOE has authorized RESL to prepare and distribute testing materials to laboratories that perform radiochemical analyses of environmental, bioassay, and other samples within the DOE.
The RTP consists of two performance components:
- NIST prepares test samples to be analyzed by RESL. RESL’s analytical results are evaluated and Reports of Test for Characterization of materials containing radionuclides.
- NIST performs verification measurements on samples prepared by RESL. The RESL’s values are compared with the experimental results generated by NIST and a Report of Test for accurate preparation of radioactive samples by RESL is issued.
Each result reported to NIST represents the activity added by NIST to the test samples, not the total activity contained in the sample, excluding the blank contribution.