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

Radioactive decay and other nuclear reactions are randomly occurring events, and therefore must be described quantitatively in statistical terms. Not only is there constant change in the activity of a specific sample due to the half-life of the radionuclide, but there is also a fluctuation in the decay rate of a sample from one instant to the next due to the random nature of radioactive decay.

The purpose of this book is to provide information and advice on radioactive sample counting to students, clinical scientists, researchers and industrial partners, and to outline example applications.