Optimization of analytical laboratory work using computer networking and databasing

Journal Article · Sat Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1996 · Health Physics

OSTI ID:393963

Upp, D L; Metcalf, R A ^[1]

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1. Los Alamos National Laboratory, NM (United States)

The Health Physics Analysis Laboratory (HPAL) performs around 600,000 analyses for radioactive nuclides each year at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL). Analysis matrices vary from nasal swipes, air filters, work area swipes, liquids, to the bottoms of shoes and cat litter. HPAL uses 8 liquid scintillation counters, 8 gas proportional counters, and 9 high purity germanium detectors in 5 laboratories to perform these analyses. HPAL has developed a computer network between the labs and software to produce analysis results. The software and hardware package includes barcode sample tracking, log-in, chain of custody, analysis calculations, analysis result printing, and utility programs. All data are written to a database, mirrored on a central server, and eventually written to CD-ROM to provide for online historical results. This system has greatly reduced the work required to provide for analysis results as well as improving the quality of the work performed.

• OSTI ID: 393963
• Report Number(s): CONF-9607135--
• Journal Information: Health Physics, Journal Name: Health Physics Journal Issue: Suppl.6 Vol. 70; ISSN HLTPAO; ISSN 0017-9078
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

44 INSTRUMENTATION
INCLUDING NUCLEAR AND PARTICLE DETECTORS
99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS
AIR FILTERS
COMPUTER NETWORKS
DATA ANALYSIS
LABORATORIES
LANL
PROPORTIONAL COUNTERS
RADIATION DETECTION
RADIATION MONITORING
RADIOACTIVITY
SCINTILLATION COUNTERS