Radioactive Sample Counting : Principles and Practice

IPEM Report 85 is a handbook for radioactive sample counters including Gamma Counters, Liquid Scintillation Detectors, Intraoperative Gamma Probes and Automatic blood sampling systems. The report summarises the physical principles of radioactivity detection and outlines the operational properties of sample counting across the different sample counting systems. This second edition builds upon and expands the original Report 85 first published in 2002. Even though the physical principles of sample counting remain the same, the counting equipment has improved, and its applications have diversified. The new edition includes updated information on counting equipment design and operation, (2) equipment specification and quality assurance procedures, and (3) worked examples of clinical, research and industrial applications of radioactive sample counting.

Key Features:

• Update of counting equipment and protocols

• Chapter on clinical and research applications

• Worked examples of counting

• Section for PET applications

• Updated guidance on Equipment Specification and Quality Procedures

Andrew Fenwick is a Senior Research Scientist at the UKs National Metrology Institute, the National Physical Laboratory (NPL), and has provided standards in nuclear medicine for over 14 years. Having joined NPL in 2008 after studying for a B.Sc. in Physics from the University of Wales (Aberystwyth), Andrew progressed his studies to obtain an M.Sc. in Radiation Detection and Instrumentation at the University of Surrey and a Ph.D. entitled Traceable 89Zr Imaging in PET at Cardiff University. His research portfolio has continued to expand but remains focussed on providing metrology for nuclear medicine services such as standards of radioactivity, nuclear data, radionuclide calibrators, SPECT/CT, PET/CT and PET/MR. Andrew has delivered teaching programmes and workshops nationally and internationally through various organisations, including the IAEA.

Fergus McKiddie is a consultant clinical scientist and MPE in PET and Nuclear Medicine at NHS Grampian and has worked at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary for almost 30 years. Fergus leads the non-imaging, therapy and PET services and undertakes research in medical imaging and radiomics. He is teaching co-ordinator for the PET and Nuclear Medicine courses on the MSc in Medical Physics at the University of Aberdeen, leads the delivery of the physics curriculum for the Fellows of Royal College of Radiology trainees and is the local training co-ordinator for the Scottish Medical Physics and Clinical Engineering Training Scheme.

Sofia Michopoulou is a consultant clinical scientist, head of nuclear medicine physics and NIHR clinical lecturer at University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust (UHS). She supports the general nuclear medicine, SPECT/CT and PET/CT services at UHS, leads the introduction of new diagnostic and therapeutic techniques and undertakes research in medical imaging and artificial intelligence. Sofia teaches medical imaging at BSc and MSc level at the University of Southampton and delivers part of the Fellows of Royal College of Radiology physics module.