Administration of Bioassay Program

DOE-STD-1128-98

5.5

ADMINISTRATION OF A BIOASSAY PROGRAM

Administering a bioassay program requires that the policies, procedures, materials, support

facilities, and staff be in place to enable a bioassay program to commence. Among the

administrative items to address are the following:

-- Management policy requiring participation in bioassay program by appropriate workers

(may be part of an overall radiation protection policy)

-- implementing procedures (e.g., criteria for who should participate, scheduling, sample

kit instructions, sample kit issue/receipt, follow-up to unsuccessful sample or

measurement attempts, data-handling)

-- arrangements with appropriate analytical laboratories, including specifications of

analysis sensitivity, processing times, reporting requirements, and quality assurance

provisions

-- onsite support facilities (e.g., sample kit storage locations, sample kit issue/collection

stations, measurement laboratory facilities, equipment maintenance)

-- staff selection, qualification, and training.

Recommendations for testing criteria for radiobioassay laboratories are in HPS N13.30

(HPS, 1996). These recommendations include calculational methods and performance

criteria for bias, precision, and testing levels.

Some sites have established brief flyers or brochures describing their bioassay

measurements. These may be distributed to workers during classroom training, upon

notification of scheduled measurements, or at the time of the measurement or sample.

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