The Radiotoxicology Laboratory at Soreq Nuclear Research Center - Almost a Decade of Successful Performance in PROCORAD Intercomparisons

The Radiotoxicology Laboratory (RL) for internal dosimetry of the Radiation Safety Division at Soreq Nuclear Research Center (SNRC) measures the activity concentration of radioactive materials excreted in urine according to the “Safety at work with ionizing radiation “regulations in Israel. The activity concertation of detected radioisotopes is then calculated using bio kinetic models as committed doses. The RL is accredited for ISO17025 and certified by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration at the Ministry of Labor Social Affairs and Social Services in Israel. The RL provides services to all Israeli radiation workers, who work with unsealed radioactive source that may penetrate their bodies by inhalation, ingestion, injection or through wounds.

Since 2009, the RL participates in annual radiotoxicology intercomparisons, organized by PROCORAD in order to promote Quality Control in radiotoxicological analytic laboratories.

Each year, around 75 laboratories, mostly from Europe, participate in these intercomparisons. The participating laboratories are mainly from the medical and environmental monitoring sector dealing with internal dosimetry analyses. PROCORAD exercises require the detection and quantification of alpha, beta and gamma/X-ray emitting radionuclides in urine samples.

To ensure true blind-testing, the samples are unmarked. The test samples are processed and measured, as all urine samples at the RL, using the lab regular procedures. Results are reported back to PROCORAD website. Results of the participating laboratories are compared with reference values and later published.

Gamma/X-ray emitters are detected by standard spectroscopy technique using High-Purity-Germanium detectors. Pure beta emitters, such as ³H, ¹⁴C and ³⁵S, are detected by using the liquid scintillation counting technique. The results of SNRC RL were always in compliance with the relevant PROCORAD acceptance levels. The intercomparisons held in 2016 and 2017, the RL demonstrated accurate results granting it the title `TOP LAB` (deviation smaller than 3%) for ³H, ¹⁴C and mixture of ³H and ¹⁴C.

The participation enables the RL to be part of a network of leading international radiotoxicology laboratories, to learn about new measurement and analysis methods. In some cases, analysis methods used by other outstanding laboratories were adopted and implemented at the RL in order to improve its performances.