News Archive

Andrew Scott, Health Physics News Contributing Editor

In 2023, the International Consortium of Laboratory Networks (ICLN) Rad Lab Subgroup launched a new website to serve the radiochemistry community as an information and resource repository. The Rad Lab Subgroup recognized a gap in any type of compendium of laboratory-related radiological information. The subgroup also recognized the loss of many longtime laboratorians to retirement. To help fill this knowledge gap, it created a radiological laboratory hub of information and resources. This subgroup promotes consistency of analytical performance to ensure quality data supporting homeland security decisions and assessing and filling gaps in radioanalytical laboratory testing.

The Rad Lab Hub provides a first-of-its-kind, centralized collection of analytical methods, operational guides, and technical information focused specifically on laboratorians, researchers, scientists, incident commanders, and field response personnel in the radiological field. Information available on the website covers topics related to the analysis of food, clinical, plant, and environmental samples that may be taken for analysis during and following a major radiological or nuclear incident. The Rad Lab Hub currently includes 150+ different information and technical resources that will greatly benefit the radiological laboratory community.

The searchable resources are collected under the following categories:

• Analytical methods – radioanalytical methods for selected radionuclides applicable to all phases of a nuclear or radiological incident requiring integrated laboratory response.
• Operational guides – provide planning and technical information for laboratories to effectively:
  • Convert from normal to emergency-response operations.
  • Establish emergency-response methods (i.e., perform method validation).
  • Ensure contamination control.
  • Conduct screening techniques on sample receipt.
  • Prioritize analysis of samples.
  • Ship radioactive samples.
  • Segregate laboratory radioactive waste.
• Training, reference, and educational documents – self-paced training modules and information to other valuable resources.
• Documentary standards – list of applicable consensus standards (e.g., ASTM, ANSI, CLIA, ISO, and TNI).
• Calibration, traceability, and physical standards – physical standards and information on certified, well-characterized materials.
• Tools – automated measurement-modeling and calculation tools to provide information such as estimating the count times.
• Additional resources – information on radiochemistry and nuclear preparedness and response.
• Lessons learned - case studies and results from radiological exercises.

In addition to making the community aware of the Rad Lab Hub, we would like to encourage and invite interested colleagues to make radioanalytical laboratory related submission(s) to broaden and deepen the accessible resources available to the community. The Rad Lab Hub is intended to be dynamic and is continuously growing as new information and resources are identified. A "Suggest Resource" button on all the Rad Lab Hub pages enables access to a form with fields that may be filled in to submit a reference. Simply click on the "Submit Link" button on the bottom of the form to submit the suggested resource to be considered for inclusion. All content is reviewed by the Rad Lab Subgroup to determine relevance and categorization before posting to the site.

The point of contact for any questions is John Griggs.