Liquid Scintillation Counter

Radiation Safety Contact:  9195152894

While liquid scintillation counter units (LSC) generally present no external radiation exposure hazard, state and federal regulations require these instruments be registered and labeled as radiation-producing equipment. Modifications, repairs or removal of the radiation source must never be attempted by lab personnel due to the potential for causing a sealed source leak resulting in radioactive contamination. Radiation Safety staff perform a routine physical inventory and source leak test on all LSC units in 6-month intervals.
Principal Investigators are responsible for contacting Radiation Safety in advance of the situations listed below:

Purchasing LSC Units

When a LSC is to be purchased through the NC State Purchasing or another agency, it must be registered through Radiation Safety. It is the responsibility of the Principal Investigator to submit form “RS-10 Radiation Producing Device Authorization Form (pdf)” to Radiation Safety before obtaining the device.
( Radiation Safety Manual – pg 16 – 17 Section 3.10 Application to Purchase a Radiation-Producing Device, outlined below)

  • 3.10 Application for Radiation-Producing Devices
    • Any person planning to obtain or construct a radiation-emitting device, including X-ray machines (analytical, diagnostic, therapeutic), electron microscopes and other X-ray equipment, should submit the following form to Radiation Safety before obtaining the device, Form RS-10, “Radiation Producing Device Authorization Form”.
    • Radiation Safety will review the proposed plans and facilities for safety and compliance with regulations and will evaluate the need for and type of radiation badges required.
    • Radiation Safety should complete the required shielding calculations prior to installation of the equipment; if shielding recommendations are provided by an outside agency, Radiation Safety must review these recommendations prior to facility construction or installation of the machine.
    • A post-installation survey should be performed after initial installation, relocation, or any renovations or alterations to the machine to assure radiation safety.
    • All radiation-producing machines shall be registered with the NC Radiation Protection Section.
    • Radiation Safety registers such machines on behalf of NC State. Each possessor of such a device is required to notify NC State Radiation Safety regarding the machine location, as it must be registered with the state agency within 30 days of initial operation.
    • All radiation-producing devices to be surplused, donated or transferred to another NC State facility or other business, should be inspected by Radiation Safety before leaving the institution.
    • Under some circumstances, a device may be tagged or disabled by Radiation Safety to prevent its use. No attempt to energize or otherwise use the device should be made without prior notification of and approval from Radiation Safety.

Accepting Donated LSC Units

When a LSC is to be donated to NC State by any outside institution, agency or individual it must be registered through Radiation Safety. It is the responsibility of the Principal Investigator to submit form “RS-10 Radiation Producing Device Authorization Form (pdf) ” to Radiation Safety before obtaining the device. These units must have a source leak test performed before use.
(Radiation safety Manual – pg 16 – 17 Section 3.10 Application to Purchase a Radiation-Producing Device, outlined above)

Re-Location of LSC Units

When a LSC is to be donated to NC State by any outside institution, agency or individual it must be registered through Radiation Safety. It is the responsibility of the Principal Investigator to submit form “RS-10 Radiation Producing Device Authorization Form” to Radiation Safety before obtaining the device. These units must have a source leak test performed before use.

Surplus or Disposal of LSC Units

LSC units cannot be sent to NC State Materials Management containing the radiation source. The correct action is to contact Radiation Safety for disposal options.
(Radiation safety Manual – pg 25 Section 5.7 Equipment Releases, outlined below).

  • 5.7 Equipment Releases
    • Equipment containing a radioactive source (e.g. liquid scintillation counters, gas chromatographs, spectrometers) or equipment contaminated by radioactive material (e.g. refrigerators, centrifuges, water baths) must be properly decontaminated or arrangements have been made for the source to be removed prior to transferring to surplus, off-site, or to an unrestricted area. Guidelines for the transfer of equipment follow:

A. For equipment that has come into contact with radioactive materials, investigators shall decontaminate equipment and conduct the appropriate surveys to ensure that any contamination is below the release for unrestricted use limits stated in 10A NCAC 15
B. For equipment that contains a radioactive source, Radiation Safety will help make arrangements to extricate the source and arrange for the proper disposal
C. Prior to transfer of the equipment, Radiation Safety should be contacted. A confirmatory survey will then be conducted and approval for the transfer will be granted

 

Visit the link for the Radiation Safety Manual (pdf)