68(Ge+Ga) activity standardization by 4πβ(LS)-γ(NaI(Tl)) anticoincidence counting measurements

Abstract

In this work, a 68(Ge+Ga) solution has been standardized at the National Institute of Ionizing Radiation Metrology (LNMRI), in Brazil, in the frame of an international key comparison CCRI(II)-K2.Ge-68 piloted by National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST/USA). The 4πβ(LS)-γ(NaI(Tl)) anticoincidence method with live-time and extended dead-time was used and its result was validated by 4πβ(LS)-γ(NaI(Tl)) coincidence counting and liquid scintillation counting using the Triple to Double Coincidence Ratio (TDCR) method. The deviations of the activity concentration values of coincidence and TDCR measurements from the anticoincidence result were 1.7% and 0.63%, respectively, which were within experimental evaluated uncertainties at ~95% level of confidence (coverage factor k = 2). The combined relative standard uncertainties were 0.65%, 0.70% and 0.53% for anticoincidence, coincidence and TDCR methods, respectively. These values are consistent with the results reported by Cessna at the ICRM2017 conference.