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. 313