Performance Testing of Radiobioassay Laboratories: In Vitro Measurements, Fecal Study Report

摘要

This study evaluated nine radiobioassay laboratories; performances in analyzing fecal samples to determine the samples' levels of radioactivity. A total of 135 artificial fecal samples were sent to nine laboratories. Each laboratory received five samples spiked with 9. 58 pCi of (sup 239)Pu, five samples spiked with 1.13 pCi (sup 239)Pu, and five unspiked blank samples. Four of the laboratories returned data for all samples; four reported they were unable to complete the analyses; one analyzed six samples (three blanks and three of the lower activity samples). Results reported by the laboratories were analyzed by statistical methods specified in the draft standard for relative bias, relative precision, and minimum detectable activity (MDA). The calculated relative biases of all laboratories were well within the criteria of the standard (-0.25 to +0.5). Biases for three laboratories were about 5% and the two others were within +-20%. Relative precision statistics for all participating laboratories were lower than the acceptance criteria of the standard (40%). Relative precision was less than 15% for one laboratory; for two others, it was less than 10%; and for the remaining two, it was less than 5% of the acceptance criteria. For the MDA criterion, four of the five laboratories passed. For all four of the passing laboratories, the entire 90% confidence interval was less than the specified acceptable minimum detectable amount (acceptable MDA) of 1 pCi. for the fifth laboratory, the MDA was 80% above the acceptable MDA specified in the draft standard. 16 refs., 3 figs., 3 tabs. (ERA citation 13:055093)