Missed Measurements: Misidentifications Observed by the US DOE Radiological Triage Program

Year
2022
Author(s)
David Mercer - Los Alamos National Laboratory
Jennifer Auxier - Los Alamos National Laboratory
Theresa Cutler - Los Alamos National Laboratory
James Evans - Los Alamos National Laboratory
Paul Felsher - Los Alamos National Laboratory
Brian Jennings - Los Alamos National Laboratory
Marcie Lombardi - Los Alamos National Laboratory
George McKenzie - Los Alamos National Laboratory
Brian Rees - Los Alamos National Laboratory
Brian Rooney - Los Alamos National Laboratory
Jacob Stinnett - Los Alamos National Laboratory
Katrina Stults - Los Alamos National Laboratory
Ryan Winkler - Los Alamos National Laboratory
Abstract

The United States Department of Energy Radiological Triage Program was formed in 2002 to help adjudicate radiation alarms, and since then, it has assisted with more than 800 cases domestically and internationally. Although the majority of these cases involved nuclear medicine patients or legitimate shipments of radioactive materials, it is common for commercial radionuclide identifiers to give incorrect ID results. We will present a few examples to illustrate common types of measurement anomalies and misidentifications that have been experienced by frontline responders and discuss examples of what we might expect in the future. Our goal is to help reduce the delays that affect innocent people and benign shipments while still correctly identifying cases that warrant a more involved response.