Neutron activation analysis quality assurance

Versieck, J. Collection and manipulation of samples for trace element analysis Quality assurance considerations. In Quality assurance in biomedical neutron activation analysis. IAEA-TECDOC-323. IAEA, Vienna, pp. 71-82 (1984)... 

Maintaining the quality of food is a far more complex problem than the quality assurance of non-food products. Analytical methods are an indispensable monitoring tool for controlling levels of substances essential for health and also of toxic substances, including heavy metals. The usual techniques for detecting elements in food are flame atomic absorption spectroscopy (FAAS), graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GF AAS), hydride generation atomic absorption spectrometry (HG AAS), cold vapour atomic absorption spectrometry (CV AAS), inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP AES), inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP MS) and neutron activation analysis (NAA). 

K. Heydorn Validation of Neutron Activation Analysis Techniques Quality Assurance for Environmental Analysis, Quevauviller, Maier, Griepink (Editors), Elsevier, Amsterdam,... 

Heydoen K (1995) Validation of neutron activation analysis techniques. In Quevauviller PH, Maier EA and Griepink B, eds. Quality Assurance for Environmental Analysis, pp. 89-110. Elsevier, Amsterdam. 

Figure 3 Illustrates the problem faced by the IAEA in the broader context of their trace element laboratory intercomparison program. These data show the reported results of 16 laboratories for measurements of arsenic in the horse kidney intercomparison sample (H-8), based on various versions of atomic absorption spectrometry, optical emission spectrometry, neutron activation analysis, and Induced X-ray emission analysis. The objective of the horse kidney intercomparison was to assess (and refine) analytical methods for the determination of essential and toxic trace elements in this surrogate for human kidney (2). Kidney, as the main target organ which accumulates toxic elements, was of special Interest with respect to cadmium. Horse kidney, which contains similar levels of cadmium to the human kidney cortex, was selected for the development and maintenance of methods having a demonstrated level of quality to assure reliable biological monitoring of this element. Participants were Invited to analyze some 24 additional trace elements, however.

Quality Assurance in Biomedical Neutron Activation Analysis" IAEA, IAEA-TECDOC-323, 1984. 

Quality Assurance in Biomedical Neutron Activation Analysis" Analvt, Chim. Acta. 1984, 165, 1, IAEA, Report of an Advisory... 

This feasibility study shows that determination of pellet wt by fast neutron oxygen activation analysis can be used for quality assurance inspection of M34 primers. Either direct oxygen analysis, where a comparison standard (such as lucite) is used, or a ratio method, utilizing the Cu in the cup-anvil combination as an internal standard, can be applied. In general, the uniformity of production primers is quite satisfactory, as is usually the case where production procedures are standardized. It seems likely that the light pellet is one which has been improperly manufd and will probably be well below specifications in pellet wt. Production experience with such primers indicates that only one in 3x10s primers is expected to show low pellet wt therefore, one would not expect to find a reject in a small sampling. Nevertheless, detection and rejection of this one bad unit is critical for the prevention of weapon malfunctions and possible injuries to personnel... 

See also Activation Analysis Neutron Activation. Air Analysis Sampling Outdoor Air. Archaeometry and Antique Analysis Metallic and Ceramic Objects. Carbon. Geochemistry Inorganic Soil, Major Inorganic Components. History of Analytical Science. Nitrogen. Quality Assurance Reference Materials. Water Analysis Freshwater Seawater - Inorganic Compounds. 

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