Minimum Detectable Amount

[dj_strom@ccmail.pnl.gov]

IMHO, by far the best reference I have ever seen on counting statistics 
and minimum detectable amount (MDA) is Turner's second edition, which 
has an all new chapter on statistics.  This is newer and better than NBS 
456, or NCRP 58, and includes the insight that I've been seeking all 
these years.  Also, there are formulas for MDAs and MDCs (minimum 
detectable concentrations) for pooled samples in NUREG-1400 (be sure to 
consult the final, not the draft).

References

Hickey, E.E.; Stoetzel, G.A.; Strom, D.J.; Cicotte, G.R.; Wiblin, C.M.; 
McGuire, S.A.  Air Sampling in the Workplace.  Final Report. NUREG-1400. 
Washington, DC: U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission; 1993.

Turner, J.E.  Atoms, Radiation, and Radiation Protection. 2nd edition. 
New York: John Wiley & Sons; 1995.

The opinions expressed above are my own, and have not been reviewed or 
approved by Battelle, the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, or the 
U.S. Department of Energy.

Daniel J. Strom, Ph.D., CHP
Staff Scientist
Health Protection Department K3-56
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
P.O. Box 999
Richland, WA 99352-0999 USA
(509) 375-2626
(509) 375-2019 fax
dj_strom@pnl.gov