Activity measurement of mixed complex radionuclide like 152Eu with different methods.

152Eu has been standardized by three independent 4π ß-γ coincidence counting systems with beta detectors as proportional counter, plastic scintillator and liquid scintillator along with the CIEMAT/NIST method. The average activity concentration by primary methods was linked to key comparison reference value (KCRV) by comparing it with that of 4π γ ionization chamber (GIC) whose calibration factor was determined from the KCRV (BIPM.RI(II)-K1.Eu-152 and CCRI(II)-K2.Eu-152) and deviates from GIC by ± 0.16% indicating good agreement within standard uncertainties.

Standardisation of 133Ba by efficiency extrapolation method and calibration of ionisation chamber.

133Ba has been standardised by direct measurements for the first time in the laboratory using two counting systems: (i) the 4πß (plastic scintillator) -γ coincidence, (ii) the 4πß (proportional counter) -γ coincidence. Furthermore, this standardisation experiment demonstrates the performance and applicability of the recently developed 4πß (plastic scintillator)-γ coincidence system for radionuclides decaying with complex decay schemes as well as for e, X-γ emitters. Additionally, 133Ba solution standards were prepared to calibrate the pressurized 4π γ ionisation chamber and determination of the calibration coefficient. The En score is a statistical indicator of the agreement between two independent estimations. Thus, the performance of the PS system was compared to the result obtained with the PC system using the En score as specified in the ISO13528:2015. The results of measurements are acceptable if En â‰¦ 1.0. An En score of 0.2 was obtained which indicates that, the 133Ba activity concentration obtained by the 4πß (plastic scintillator) -γ coincidence and 4πß (proportional counter) -γ coincidence systems are in agreement. This paper presents the standardisation procedure, the results obtained by the measurements and their comparison.

Development of plastic scintillator based primary standard for activity measurements and its performance evaluation.

4πß-γ coincidence technique is a powerful tool and widely recognised method to determine the absolute activity concentration of radioactive solutions. A new plastic scintillator based coincidence system has been developed and established as a primary standard for radioactivity measurements. The performance of the system was evaluated by the standardisation of 60Co radioactive solution due to its simple decay scheme. The activity concentration results obtained by the new system were compared with the existing proportional counter and liquid scintillation based 4πß-γ coincidence systems. This paper discusses the design details of the new system and its performance evaluation.

An automated LS(ß)- NaI(Tl)(γ) coincidence system as absolute standard for radioactivity measurements.

4πß-γ coincidence method is a powerful and widely used method to determine the absolute activity concentration of radioactive solutions. A new automated liquid scintillator based coincidence system has been designed, developed, tested and established as absolute standard for radioactivity measurements. The automation is achieved using PLC (programmable logic controller) and SCADA (supervisory control and data acquisition). Radioactive solution of 60Co was standardized to compare the performance of the automated system with proportional counter based absolute standard maintained in the laboratory. The activity concentrations determined using these two systems were in very good agreement; the new automated system can be used for absolute measurement of activity concentration of radioactive solutions.

A primary standard for the measurement of alpha and beta particle surface emission rate from large area reference sources.

A large area windowless gas flow multi wire proportional counting system for the calibration of large area reference sources has been developed as a primary standard at Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC). The counting system consists of a multi wire proportional counter (MWPC), vacuum system, gas flow system and pulse processing units. The MWPC detector assembly consists of a vacuum tight aluminum enclosure, multi wire grid and sliding source tray. Various detector characteristics like operating characteristics curve, Fe-55 spectrum for beta discriminator threshold setting and dead time of the measurement system were studied and determined in order to achieve an optimized detection capability. The surface emission rates of different source strengths were measured and their relative combined standard uncertainties were determined. Large Area Sources Comparison Exercise (LASCE) was organized by International Committee on Radionuclide Metrology (ICRM) working group and coordinated by National Institute for Ionising Radiation Metrology (ENEA), Italy, to demonstrate equivalence of surface emission rate measurements at the international platform. BARC participated in the programme and the results of LASCE are also discussed in this paper.

National comparison of 131I measurement among nuclear medicine clinics of eight countries.

A generally applicable protocol for organizing comparisons among nuclear medicine clinics created within the IAEA project CRP E2.10.05 was tested in Brazil, Cuba, Czech Republic, India, Iran, Republic of Korea, Romania and Turkey in 2007. Comparisons of measurement of (131)I were organized by local pilot laboratories with different backgrounds and levels of experience in this field. The results and experiences gained were compared and analyzed. A majority of results in each national comparison were within 10% of the reference value.