[ RadSafe ] Fwd: Basis for Sealed Source Leak Test Detection Level

[Chris Alston]

Folks

It's not an LLD per se, it's an action level (threshold, if you prefer).
The NRC's rule is that, when you find 0.005 uCi, or more, leaking from a
sealed source, you take it out of service (like, then), repair or dispose
of it, and inform them (5-day rule??).  So, if you cannot detect at least
0.005 uCi, you have a problem, because you could have a leaker, by
regulatory definition, and not know it.  Of course, as some of you have
said, it's easy to get LLD's much lower than that, even with, say, a
pancake G-M tube.

Now, what the rationale for the original value was, I don't know.  Mayhap
we should page Paul Frame, or a similar historical guru.

Cheers
ca