EURADOS intercomparison on emergency radiobioassay

Area of Science:

• Radiological protection
• Environmental monitoring
• Nuclear medicine

Background:

• Emergency radiobioassay is crucial for assessing internal contamination.
• Accurate detection of radionuclides like plutonium, americium, strontium, and radium is vital for timely medical intervention.
• The European Radiation Dosimetry Group (EURADOS) organized an intercomparison exercise to evaluate laboratory performance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the performance of diverse in vitro radiobioassay methods used by nine laboratories.
• To assess the suitability of these methods for emergency situations based on established guidelines.
• To identify technical gaps and areas for improvement in radionuclide analysis.

Main Methods:

• Participants performed in vitro analysis of urine samples spiked with four high-risk radionuclides: plutonium-239, americium-241, strontium-90, and radium-226.
• Diverse analytical techniques were employed across the nine participating laboratories.
• Method sensitivity, accuracy (relative bias and precision), and turnaround time were evaluated.

Main Results:

• Most methods demonstrated sufficient sensitivity to meet emergency radiobioassay requirements, aligning with the National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements (NCRP) Clinical Decision Guide.
• Results generally met ISO 28218 accuracy standards for relative bias and precision.
• Identified gaps include limited capability for radium-226 assay in some labs and longer-than-desired sample turnaround times.

Conclusions:

• Current radiobioassay methods are largely adequate for emergency response involving key radionuclides.
• Improvements are needed in radium-226 analysis capabilities and reducing sample processing time for faster clinical decision-making.
• Intercomparison exercises foster knowledge exchange to enhance laboratory interoperability and overall emergency preparedness.