RADIATION MONITORING | SENSOR CALIBRATION


over time. Mixed radionuclide solutions provide a practical way to maintain calibration across multiple measurement campaigns, contributing to the overall quality and consistency of laboratory work.


Combined with robust quality processes, traceable mixed radionuclide solutions provide a reliable basis for calibration and trust in the measurements that follow. Source: Krysja/ Shutterstock.com


Unsurprisingly, the nuclear sector places particularly demanding requirements on measurement accuracy. During decommissioning and waste management activities, organisations must characterise materials accurately to determine how they should be handled, stored or disposed of. These measurements have implications for not only environmental protection but also for operational efficiency and cost. Waste classification decisions are often based on measured activity levels, meaning confidence in measurement results is essential. Gamma spectrometry is widely used in these applications because it provides a practical method for identifying and quantifying radionuclides present in waste streams and other materials. Effective calibration is therefore fundamental to ensuring that measurement data can be trusted when making classification decisions. Reliable calibration across a broad energy range using mixed radionuclide solutions helps laboratories to maintain the assurance they need to accurately characterise waste, as well as other similar decommissioning-related activities. Research and analytical laboratories also depend on


accurate radioactivity measurements. Whether they are carrying out routine analytical services or developing new measurement techniques, these organisations need confidence that instrument performance is stable and measurement results are reproducible. Reliable calibration means that the experimental data they generate is of a high level of quality, and is comparable


Planning for the long term Producing mixed radionuclide solutions requires specialist expertise, suitable starting materials and rigorous quality controls; it involves far more than simply combining radionuclides within a solution. Some radionuclides can be difficult or costly to source while others require specialised preparation to account for stability or decay characteristics. Activity values must be established and verified by appropriate traceability routes before mixtures can be released for use, which requires careful measurement and validation to ensure that users can rely on the resulting calibration data. Due to these requirements, production is often planned well in advance. Laboratories that rely on mixed radionuclide standards may therefore benefit from taking a similarly long-term view of their calibration activities. Maintaining access to suitable reference materials helps to ensure continuity in measurement programmes and the reliable ongoing performance of gamma spectrometry systems. Forward planning can help organisations to avoid disruption while ensuring that calibration activities remain aligned with operational requirements. As demand for accurate and traceable radioactivity


measurements continues to rise, laboratories face increasing expectations around data quality, consistency and regulatory compliance. Meeting these requirements depends on maintaining confidence in the measurement systems that underpin gamma spectrometry. Mixed radionuclide solutions play an important role in this process. By providing multiple calibration points within a single standard, they offer a practical and reproducible basis for calibration across a broad energy range while maintaining traceability to recognised standards. With a wide field of applications that include environmental monitoring, decommissioning, waste management and research activities, access to well- characterised mixed radionuclide standards helps laboratories to generate reliable measurement data and maintain confidence in their results. As measurement requirements continue to evolve, these standards will remain an important part of the infrastructure that ensures accurate radioactivity measurement. ■


During decommissioning and waste management activities, organisations must characterise materials accurately to determine how they should be handled, stored or disposed of. Source: Cassiohabib/ Shutterstock.com


26 | July 2026 | www.neimagazine.com


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