Number 23, November, 1999

ORS provides a program of bioassay as an aid to determine whether intake of radioactive materials has occurred and, if so, to assess it's magnitude and the need for further investigation. Authorized investigators are responsible for ensuring that their radiation workers comply with the bioassay requirements. The University's license requires urinalysis for the radionuclides in the following table; samples may be required for others depending on the circumstances of a suspected uptake and the professional judgement of the radiation safety staff.

In order to make sure that radiation workers provide samples according to the schedule, ORS reviews the returned inventory forms on which workers are required to make entries for each use. We cross-check that against the bioassay records and follow up if a sample has not been provided. Filling in the usage information as soon as you have used the material is a good way to remind yourself to look at the bioassay table to see if you are required to provide a sample.

Sample containers are available in each ORS office. Your sample label needs to include the date the sample was collected, your name, the radionuclide used, the amount used, your authorized investigator's name, and the control number to which the sample applies.

Courier deliver a package directly to your lab?

Sometimes when courier services have substitute drivers--especially around the holidays--they make the mistake of delivering radioactive materials directly to the laboratory instead of bringing them to ORS. When that happens you should just turn the courier around and send the courier to ORS. If someone in the lab accepts the package then you need to bring it to ORS before you even open it. We want to test the package for contamination and we have to prepare the necessary paperwork, which usually takes only a few minutes.