SAMPLE PREPARATION DRY RUN AT THE
NEVADA APPLIED ECOLOGY GROUP (NAEG)
HIGH RADIOACTIVITY LEVEL FACILITY
R. J.
Straight and B. P. Smith
Reynolds Electrical & Engineering Co., Inc.
Las Vegas, Nevada
ABSTRACT
An activity was conducted in a laboratory facility located at Area 400 of the
Nevada Test Site to simulate and assess the feasibility of performing transuranic radiochemical analysis on large animal tissue samples that could contain
millicurie quantities of radioisotopes.
INTRODUCTION
One of the objectives of the NAEG is to assure that contractor laboratories
have developed analytical techniques for analysis.
One of these techniques is
the handling and analysis of relatively large tissue sample sizes and high
radioactivities of the transuranics that are anticipated in the large animal
studies program,
The LFE Environmental Analysis Laboratories, a contractor to ERDA, is a laboratory that has qualified under the NAEG's qualification procedure for the
analysis of large animal samples for transuranics.
This laboratory was required
to perform a simulated exercise to assess the techniques, conditions, problems,
and precautions associated with the chemical analysis of Class 1 (very high
radiotoxicity) materials in tissue samples.
This dry run was conducted in
March, 1975, at the NAEG high radioactivity level facility at Test Cell A in
Area 400 of NRDS.
The NAEG high radioactivity level facility required routine maintenance and
power to be put into use.
The laboratory equipment, including hoods, glove
boxes, and air filtration systems, required refurbishing prior to use in order
to meet the health and safety requirements.
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