- Prior to performing Leak Test ensure the correct PPE is worn
- Goggles
- Gloves
- Remove smear from envelope
- With the side that is not numbered, firmly smear the source, using tongs to hold the smear for higher activity sources.
- For gas chromatographs, smear the exhaust or vent of the machine in addition to the normal source location.
- For radium sources, the leak test is taken from the interior surface of the storage container. ORS staff will conduct the radon emanation leak test that is separate from this leak test.
- Return smear to envelope and discard gloves in RAM waste
Analyzing Smears
Note: When running both α-smears and β-smears on the LB5100 (i.e. every 6 months) separate the α-smears and β-smears and run as separate protocols.
- For α-smears:
- All α-smears are counted using the LB5100
- Place smear on tray with number facing down
- On LB5100 Click the green start button and select the ‘Smears’ protocol, select the grouping letter that is assigned to the Leak Test and Click ‘Ok’
- For β/γ-smears
- For isotopes that emit β-particles greater than 250 KeV (ex. Sr-90, (Co-60, only when gamma counter is not available))use LB5100
- For the Co-60 leak tests (only when gamma counter is not available)
- Run the "Tc-99 Efficiency" protocol with source number 483-042-00. This will store the efficiency that will be used by the next step.
- Run the Co-60 leak test smears using protocol "Co-60 Leak Tests"
- For the Co-60 leak tests (only when gamma counter is not available)
- For isotopes that emit β-particles less than 250 KeV (ex. Ni-63, Fe-55) use LSC
- For isotopes that emit γ-rays and aren’t also alpha emitters (ex. Co-57, Co-60, Na-22, Cs-137), use the gamma counter.
- Before using the Wizard, be sure to run a normalization protocol for each isotope
- For isotopes that emit β-particles greater than 250 KeV (ex. Sr-90, (Co-60, only when gamma counter is not available))use LB5100
- Write the applicable source number next to each smear result on any LSC, LB5100, or Wizard printouts.