RE: Approved Internal Dosimetry Services.Questions.

[Elizabeth M Brackett <BRACKETTEM@kohis.a1.ornl.gov>]

In the U.S. there are regulations regarding external dosimetry services from 
two regulatory agencies.  The NRC has NVLAP (National Voluntary Laboratory 
Accreditation Program) while the DOE has DOELAP.  There are specific 
requirements and testing criteria spelled out that a lab must meet in order to 
provide services.  There are currently no corresponding programs or 
requirements for internal dosimetry.  DOE has begun a pilot program for 
testing bioassay labs; the testing criteria are based on the draft ANSI N13.30 
document.  There is also talk of accrediting the internal dosimetrists at DOE 
facilities by giving them bioassay data and associated information and having 
them perform a dose calculation, but this probably won't be done until there 
is an established accreditation program for bioassay laboratories.

As far as who is responsible for what, in general a lab processes the samples 
and provides results to a facility.  The lab may or may not be part of the 
company seeking the analysis.  The facility's internal dosimetrist would then 
use these results, along with other information, to perform the dose 
calculation.  This is how it typically works at a DOE facility.  At a nuclear 
power plant, where the chance of intake is generally lower and of smaller 
magnitude, a qualified health physicist at the plant or a consultant would 
probably do the dose assessment (i.e., they aren't as likely to have a 
full-time internal dosimetrist).

Liz Brackett
Dosimetry Program Manager
Martin Marietta Energy Systems