Instructions for Wipe Testing for Instructions for Wipe Testing for Radioactive Material ContaminationRadioactive Material Contamination

Radiation Safety ProgramRadiation Safety Program

Environmental Health & SafetyEnvironmental Health & Safety

713-500-5840713-500-5840

Outline of InstructionsOutline of Instructions

◙ Purpose of Wipe TestsPurpose of Wipe Tests

◙ UTHSC-H Wipe Test RequirementsUTHSC-H Wipe Test Requirements

◙ Wipe Test MaterialsWipe Test Materials

◙ Appropriate Lab AttireAppropriate Lab Attire

◙ UTHSC-H Radiation Safety FormsUTHSC-H Radiation Safety Forms

◙ Instructions for Wipe TestsInstructions for Wipe Tests

◙ How to Clean a Contaminated AreaHow to Clean a Contaminated Area

◙ Safety Resources on the WebSafety Resources on the Web

◙ SummarySummary

Purpose of Wipe Tests for Radioactive Purpose of Wipe Tests for Radioactive Material ContaminationMaterial Contamination

◙ To ensure that education, research, and To ensure that education, research, and health-care related activities take place in health-care related activities take place in conditions that are optimally safe and conditions that are optimally safe and healthy for students, faculty, staff, visitors, healthy for students, faculty, staff, visitors, surrounding community, and general surrounding community, and general public. public.

UTHSCH Wipe Test RequirementsUTHSCH Wipe Test Requirements

◙ Any Room Any Room AuthorizedAuthorized to Work with to Work with Radioactive Materials Must at LeastRadioactive Materials Must at Least₪Document monthly wipes where used, stored and Document monthly wipes where used, stored and

selected “clean” areasselected “clean” areas₪If If storage onlystorage only, monthly wipe test of storage , monthly wipe test of storage

locationlocation₪If If no use AND no storageno use AND no storage, monthly statement , monthly statement

indicating “no radioactive material used or stored indicating “no radioactive material used or stored for XXX month”for XXX month”

◙ Additional requirements may occur for Additional requirements may occur for researchers working with greater than 5 mCiresearchers working with greater than 5 mCi₪Urine bioassay and more frequent surveysUrine bioassay and more frequent surveys

Contamination SurveyContamination Survey

◙ For the protection of the researchers and For the protection of the researchers and all workers in the lab, a contamination all workers in the lab, a contamination survey should be performed at the end of survey should be performed at the end of each experiment or project.each experiment or project.

◙ Not documentedNot documented◙ Can be performed with a Geiger-Mueller Can be performed with a Geiger-Mueller

detector detector ◙ Simple check to make sure there is no Simple check to make sure there is no

contamination in the lab that may have contamination in the lab that may have resulted from the radiation workresulted from the radiation work

www.uth.tmc.edu

Safety Resources on the WebSafety Resources on the Web

safety

Radiation Safety

RS-08

Radiation Safety RequirementsRadiation Safety RequirementsUpon Receipt of Radioactive MaterialUpon Receipt of Radioactive Material

◙ Documented monthly lab wipe testsDocumented monthly lab wipe tests₪ Wear proper attireWear proper attire

ه Lab coatLab coatه Eye protectionEye protectionه GlovesGloves

₪ Gather equipmentGather equipmentه Cotton swab, filter paper, or paper towelCotton swab, filter paper, or paper towelه Vial or EnvelopeVial or Envelope

Attire & EquipmentAttire & Equipment

Wipe Test ProcedureWipe Test Procedure

◙ Use cotton swab to take several samples from Use cotton swab to take several samples from different areas within the lab different areas within the lab

◙ At least one wipe in storage areaAt least one wipe in storage area₪ If no use or storage in month, document as “no use or If no use or storage in month, document as “no use or

storage in XXX month” storage in XXX month”

◙ Place samples in separate vial or envelopePlace samples in separate vial or envelope◙ Label each vial or envelope noting the location of Label each vial or envelope noting the location of

the samplethe sample◙ Fill out “Laboratory Wipe Test Report”Fill out “Laboratory Wipe Test Report”

Collecting the SampleCollecting the Sample

◙ Take samples using a “S” motion while Take samples using a “S” motion while rotating the cotton swab. Also shown, rotating the cotton swab. Also shown, collecting a sample using a chem wipe.collecting a sample using a chem wipe.

Collecting the SampleCollecting the Sample

Cut stick of cotton swab down to fit inside vial and close vial with lid.

Preparing the SamplesPreparing the Samples

◙ Samples are placed individually in Samples are placed individually in separate eppendorf tubes and 1 mL of separate eppendorf tubes and 1 mL of cocktail or enough cocktail to cover the cocktail or enough cocktail to cover the sample is addedsample is added

◙ A blank eppendorf tube is prepared in the A blank eppendorf tube is prepared in the same manner that will serve as the same manner that will serve as the background samplebackground sample

Preparing the SamplesPreparing the Samples

Take cut cotton swab and place in tube

Fill tube with approximately 1mL of cocktail

Close tube

Loading the Samples Loading the Samples

◙ Place tubes into vial holdersPlace tubes into vial holders◙ Insert tubes into LSC racksInsert tubes into LSC racks◙ Load racks into the Liquid Scintillation Counter Load racks into the Liquid Scintillation Counter

(LSC) and flag the samples for counting by (LSC) and flag the samples for counting by moving tab.moving tab.

◙ Example for loading the LSC:Example for loading the LSC:₪ Slide the tab located on the rack to the position where Slide the tab located on the rack to the position where

the color is not showing.the color is not showing.ه This tells the LSC that the sample has not been read.This tells the LSC that the sample has not been read.

₪ When the tab is in the opposite position it signals to the When the tab is in the opposite position it signals to the user and LSC that the sample has been read.user and LSC that the sample has been read.

Loading the SamplesLoading the Samples

Tab position indicates vials will not be read.

Tab position indicates vials to be read.Place closed tube into vial holder

Load rack into LSC to run wipe test

Various LSC’sVarious LSC’s

Filling out the ReportFilling out the Report

◙ Fill out all necessary information Fill out all necessary information ₪Authorized userAuthorized user₪DateDate₪Building and Room numberBuilding and Room number₪Wipe tested byWipe tested by

◙ Draw and label laboratory diagram in Draw and label laboratory diagram in space provided space provided

L a b o r a t o r y W i p e T e s t R e p o r t f o r R a d i o a c t i v e M a t e r i a l s f o r A u t h o r i z e d U s e r s

B u i l d i n g : _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ R o o m N u m b e r : _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ W i p e T e s t e d b y : _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ D a t e : _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

R a d i o i s o t o p e s u s e d i n t h i s L a b o r a t o r y : _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ N o t e : I f S t o r a g e O n l y - W i p e t e s t m u s t a t l e a s t b e t a k e n o f s t o r a g e a r e a I f N o U s e o r S t o r a g e - I n c o m m e n t s e c t i o n i n d i c a t e “ N o U s e o r S t o r a g e T h i s M o n t h ”

A u t h o r i z e d U s e r : _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ A u t h o r i z a t i o n N u m b e r : _ _ _ _ C o u n t i n g E q u i p m e n t … … … … … … … … … … … . S e r i a l N u m b e r : _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ T y p e : L S C o r O t h e r ( s p e c i f y ) _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ M o d e l : _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ S t a n d a r d I s o t o p e E f f i c i e n c y ( % ) * C h a n n e l E n e r g y R a n g e ( k e V ) E x a m p l e : H - 3 _ _ _ _ _ 3 0 % _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ A _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 0 - 2 0 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ E x a m p l e : P - 3 2 _ _ _ _ 7 5 % _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ B _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 0 - 1 8 0 0 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ * E f f i c i e n c y m a y b e o m i t t e d i f e q u i p m e n t a u t o m a t i c a l l y c o n v e r t s t o d p m

L a b o r a t o r y D i a g r a m

W i p e T e s t R e s u l t s

B a c k g r o u n d C o u n t R a t e ( c p m ) : _ _ _ _

N u m b e r C o u n t R a t e ( d p m ) 1 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 2 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 3 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 4 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 5 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 6 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 7 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 8 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 9 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 1 0 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 1 1 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 1 2 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 1 3 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 1 4 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 1 5 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 1 6 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 1 7 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 1 8 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

R e w i p e o f # _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ R e w i p e o f # _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

C o m m e n t s : _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

efficien cy

b a ckg ro u ndcpmdpm

Laboratory Wipe Test Report for Radioactive Materials for Authorized Users

Building: MSB____ Room Number: 5.432___ Wipe Tested by: John Smith________________ Date: July 11, 2006_________

Radioisotopes used in this Laboratory: P-32, C-14, S-35, H-3 __________________ Note: If Storage Only - Wipe test must at least be taken of storage area If No Use or Storage - In comment section indicate “No Use or Storage This Month”

Authorized User: R. Emery ________________ Authorization Number: 001 _ Counting Equipment …………………………. _ Serial Number: 426589_____ Type: LSC or Other (specify) LSC_________ Model: Packard___________ Standard Isotope Efficiency (%) * Channel Energy Range (keV) Example: H-3_____ 30 %___________ A ________ 0 - 20 _______________ Example: P-32 ____ 75 %___________ B ________ 0 - 1800 _____________ _________________ _______________ _________ ____________________ _________________ _______________ _________ ____________________ _________________ _______________ _________ ____________________ *Efficiency may be omitted if equipment automatically converts to dpm

Laboratory Diagram

Wipe Test Results

Background Count Rate (cpm):18__

Number Count Rate (dpm) 1 20 ______ 2 23 ______ 3 19 ______ 4 22 ______ 5 26 ______ 6 250 _____ 7 18 ______ 8 21 ______ 9 ________ 10 ________ 11 ________ 12 ________ 13 ________ 14 ________ 15 ________ 16 ________ 17 ________ 18 ________

Rewipe of # __6_ 22______ Rewipe of # ___ ________

Comments: Wipe test for area 6 showed slight contamination. After cleaning the area it was re-wiped and tested to provide proof of decontamination. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

efficiency

backgroundcpmdpm

1

2

3

4

5

How do you know if results show contamination??

6

7

8

1. Floor

2. Lab bench

3. Fume hood

4. Sink

5. Door

6. Lab bench

7. Lab bench

8. Sink

◙ How do you know if results show How do you know if results show contamination?contamination?₪Wipe test results show counts in excess of Wipe test results show counts in excess of

three times the background count.three times the background count.₪Contaminated area should be documented and Contaminated area should be documented and

cleaned, then re-wiped to verify area now cleaned, then re-wiped to verify area now clean.clean.

₪ Channels on the LSC should be set to Channels on the LSC should be set to maximum beta energy for isotope(s) of interestmaximum beta energy for isotope(s) of interestه If upon running a wipe test a channel produces high If upon running a wipe test a channel produces high

value counts, then based upon that channel one can value counts, then based upon that channel one can determine what isotope is the contaminating factordetermine what isotope is the contaminating factor

Quick Contamination CalculationQuick Contamination Calculation

◙ A rule of thumb for determining if the area A rule of thumb for determining if the area is contaminated is if the sample CPM is is contaminated is if the sample CPM is greater than three (3) times that of the greater than three (3) times that of the backgroundbackground

Contaminated area > (3)*(Background)

If Area is ContaminatedIf Area is Contaminated

◙ Take proper precautionsTake proper precautions◙ IF MINOR Spill or Contaminated Area– IF MINOR Spill or Contaminated Area–

₪Clean the affected area per proper lab Clean the affected area per proper lab cleanup procedurescleanup procedures

◙ IF MAJOR Spill or Contaminated Area-IF MAJOR Spill or Contaminated Area-₪Secure the area, prevent re-entrySecure the area, prevent re-entry₪Contact Radiation Safety for AssistanceContact Radiation Safety for Assistance

ه 713-500-5840 During Business Hours713-500-5840 During Business Hoursه 713-500-4357 After Hours (500-HELP) UT 713-500-4357 After Hours (500-HELP) UT

Police Police

How to Clean Up ContaminationHow to Clean Up Contamination

◙ Ensure that spill is containedEnsure that spill is contained₪ Limit traffic where event Limit traffic where event

occurred.occurred.₪ Prevent runoff (from table to Prevent runoff (from table to

floor or spreading on table).floor or spreading on table).₪ Inform coworkers and lab Inform coworkers and lab

manager.manager.

₪Call Radiation Safety! Call Radiation Safety! (713) 500-5840 (713) 500-5840

How to Clean Up ContaminationHow to Clean Up Contamination

◙ Obtain necessary Obtain necessary supplies for cleanupsupplies for cleanup₪ Paper towels or Paper towels or

diapers diapers ₪ RADCON or Scrubbing RADCON or Scrubbing

Bubbles (DOW)Bubbles (DOW)₪ Opaque plastic bags Opaque plastic bags

for waste.for waste.₪ LabelsLabels₪ GlovesGloves

How to Clean Up ContaminationHow to Clean Up Contamination

◙ Ensure that contamination is containedEnsure that contamination is contained

How to Clean Up ContaminationHow to Clean Up Contamination

◙ Spray area with RADCON or Scrubbing Bubbles (DOW) to lift Spray area with RADCON or Scrubbing Bubbles (DOW) to lift contamination from the surfacecontamination from the surface

How to Clean Up a ContaminationHow to Clean Up a Contamination

◙ Wipe from the outside in so not to spread the contaminationWipe from the outside in so not to spread the contamination

ReviewReview

◙ Documented Monthly Wipe Tests for Documented Monthly Wipe Tests for Radioactive Material Contamination are Radioactive Material Contamination are RequiredRequired

◙ A Radioactive Spill or Contaminated Area A Radioactive Spill or Contaminated Area Should be Decontaminated (Cleaned) and Should be Decontaminated (Cleaned) and Wipe Tested AgainWipe Tested Again

◙ For Assistance, You can Contact Radiation For Assistance, You can Contact Radiation Safety at 713-500-5840Safety at 713-500-5840