Is alpha spectrometry reliable for ²¹⁰Po urine bioassay?

Radiat Prot Dosimetry. 2011 Jan;143(1):106-8. doi: 10.1093/rpd/ncq288. Epub 2010 Oct 14.

Abstract

Typically the bioassay method for (210)Po in urine by alpha spectrometry (AS) involves wet decomposition of the sample, which may cause a loss of (210)Po if volatile species are present. To test this hypothesis, urine samples collected from two rats that were i.v. administered with polonium citrate were measured by both AS and liquid scintillation counting, where urine samples were mixed with a scintillation cocktail without any treatment. A split-plot design method was used to compare results from the two measurement methods, showing no evidence of a difference between the two methods. This suggests that the AS method is reliable for (210)Po urine bioassay.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biological Assay*
  • Male
  • Polonium / administration & dosage
  • Polonium / urine*
  • Rats
  • Rats, Hairless
  • Scintillation Counting*
  • Spectrophotometry

Substances

  • Polonium