Radioanalytical services

Introduction

Radioanalytical Services (RAS) is part of ARPANSA's Radiochemistry & Environmental Sciences Laboratory. We offer NATA-accredited laboratory measurement services to measure radioactivity in food and environmental samples.

Accreditation 

This facility complies with the requirements of ISO/IEC 17025. Our National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA) accreditation number is 14442. Please refer to the NATA website for the full list of accredited services. 

Requests for service 

Following accreditation requirements, the Client Request Form & Chain of Custody Form should be filled out and provided by the client and receipted, signed and returned by RAS when the samples are received and logged. Sample analysis will not begin until we have received these forms:

Sample Receipt & Reporting Process

• RAS will send confirmation of receipt of samples.
• It is the client’s responsibility to notify ARPANSA of any hazards associated with the samples. ARPANSA reserves the right to return any samples to the client (at the client’s cost) and will normally return hazardous samples.
• Samples will be retained for a minimum of one month after the issue of the test report. After this time, unless otherwise requested by the client, the samples will be disposed of.

Client Responsibilities

• It is the responsibility of the client to ensure that the samples accurately reflect the material or environment being analysed by selecting the right sample, using proper sampling techniques, providing adequate sample size, and ensuring the samples are properly packaged, labelled, and transported in accordance with state and Commonwealth regulations.
• Sample containers should be uniquely identified and appropriately labelled.
• Samples received without proper documentation, including a completed and signed Client Request Form and Chain of Custody Form, will not be analysed until received and acknowledged.

NATA-Accredited Test Methods

Test methods conducted by RAS, accredited under ISO/IEC 17025 by NATA, are the following:

• High-Resolution Gamma Spectrometry for Environmental Samples in the following matrices (for commonly-reported suites of gamma-emitting radionuclides available for analysis in environmental samples, please see here:
  • bore waters 
  • drain waters
  • estuarine waters
  • fresh waters
  • ground waters
  • irrigation and stock waters
  • liquid wastes
  • recycled waters
  • saline waters
  • sediments 
  • soils
  • surface waters
  • trade wastes
  • waste waters
• High-Resolution Gamma Spectrometry for Food Samples (for commonly-reported suites of gamma-emitting radionuclides available for analysis in food samples, please see here:

Cost of Services

*The extra charge for additional lots of 5 copies is $100.00.

Invoices will be issued that meet the minimum requirements of the Australian Taxation Office and applicable legislation.

Client Feedback

Our laboratory welcomes any feedback or comments on our service: ras@arpansa.gov.au.

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