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Title: High-accuracy INAA on real samples

Journal Article · · Transactions of the American Nuclear Society
OSTI ID:88957

The interest in quality assurance (QA), total quality management (TQM), and laboratory accreditation is currently an active topic for discussion. Many people are talking about and writing papers and articles about how all these {open_quotes}new{close_quotes} concepts are going to really make a difference and make all of their data much better. The question is, do we expect to see a real difference in the {open_quotes}quality{close_quotes} of the data coming out of these laboratories? My concern is that many of these {open_quotes}quality systems{close_quotes} appear to be focused primarily on developing rigid methods and procedures that detail step-by-step instructions to cover {open_quotes}all{close_quotes} possibilities, thus eliminating operator error. This also largely eliminates operator judgment and, often, operator motivation. I believe that the most important part of the analytical system is the person doing the work. Further, in my experience, the quality of the analytical results can be judged very well if the person who is doing the analysis is known. This is true especially for activation analysis.

OSTI ID:
88957
Report Number(s):
CONF-941102-; ISSN 0003-018X; TRN: 95:004215-0021
Journal Information:
Transactions of the American Nuclear Society, Vol. 71; Conference: Winter meeting of the American Nuclear Society (ANS), Washington, DC (United States), 13-18 Nov 1994; Other Information: PBD: 1994
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English