Laboratory Surveys

Laboratories that use unsealed radioactive materials (RAM) are required to perform monthly radiation wipe surveys. Wipe surveys are performed using an analytical radiation detection equipment such as a liquid scintillation counter, gamma counter or well counter. The best practice for radiation contamination control is to perform a survey before and after each RAM experiment to identify contamination early and clean up contamination (i.e. decontaminate) to prevent any spread of contamination. Radiation survey is also required after decontamination is completed for documentation to demonstrate successful removal of contamination. Some radioisotopes can be detected using a portable Geiger Mueller detector such as Na-22, P-32 and Cr-51, whereas other radioisotopes such as H-3, C-14 and S-35 can only be detected by performing a wipe test.

Please refer to Chapter IX. B. Contamination and Radiation Surveys of Laboratories Using Radioactive Materials of the Radiation Safety Manual, the policy on Laboratory Surveys when Working with Radioactive Materials and the guide on Selection of Survey Meters for Monitoring. Please contact Radiation Safety if you have any questions on how to access a liquid scintillation counter on campus and how to procure a portable Geiger Mueller detector. Click on the hyperlinks below to watch a video on: