False Positives in Personnel Dosimetry?

[Chris Alston <alstonc@odrge.odr.georgetown.edu>]

Folks

One of the leading vendors has introduced a dosimeter for which the default
minimum detectable reporting level is one (1) mrem. Since many (most?) of
us monitor fairly large groups of people, who are not exposed to radiation
in amounts that are important (with respect to the need for protection) in
the occupational arena, would the use of these badges, at the default
sensitivity, result in an increase in false-positives? I'm wondering if
it's analogous to other statistical tests, e.g., in clinical pathology,
where it's my understanding that, if one uses a probe of very high
sensitivity, say, a blood test for a disease or drug, in a large population
in which the incidence of the "trait" is very low, one accepts the
likelihood of more f-p's, relative to the number that one would expect in a
group of the same size, that was known to have a high incidence of the
trait. Or do I simply misunderstand something fundamental about statistics,
and does the purported phenomenon exists only between my ears?

Hoping not to be eggfaced, I thank you in advance
cja
alstoncj@georgetown.edu

P.S. If knowledgeable persons at the vendor in question, who are (I know)
forbidden to post to the list, wish to email me directly, I promise to
offer the response to the list as if it were from Deep Throat, i.e., with
anonymity guaranteed to the responder.
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