1. Package Receipt
Please check the content of the package and compare it with the items listed in the attached packing list. Sign and date the packing list and send it back to IARMA using your Portal page or email at: office@iarma.co.uk.
2. Choice of Method/Procedure.
Participants may use any routine and validated method of their choice (i.e. you should not use these samples to test a new procedure). The within bottle homogeneity is assured at 5 g test portion for water samples.
3. Description of the water samples:
Matrix origin:
Drinking water from controlled tap water system Radmirje was used to prepare the test items IARMA-207, IARMA-208, IARMA-209 and IARMA-210. The water was acidified busing nitric acid before its usage.
Adriatic Sea water was used to prepare the test items: IARMA-211 and IARMA-212. The water was filtered and acidified using nitric acid before its usage.
Sample preparation:
The water was gravimetrically spiked with known amounts of a standard solution containing a mixture of certified Am-241 and Sr-90. After bottling, homogeneity and stability tests showed acceptable results.
4. Sample Handling:
- Weigh the bottles and record the measured gross mass (as received with screw‑cap and labels) on the Packing list sent to you with the samples.
- Filter the water test items using a Whatman paper filter to remove any suspended particles.
- Thoroughly mix the sample before transferring the contents to your standard sample counting container for α-counting or β-spectrometry measurements.
5. Reporting Requirements:
- Results should be reported using the IARMA Portal page. The username and password were sent to each participant.
- The value of the measurement result of gross α and/or gross β and its combined standard uncertainty must be expressed in [Bq/kg] for the water samples.
- Please report only two digits after the decimal point.
- For results reporting you may use “NR” for unreported results and “NA” for not applicable.
- PLease report the date of measurement.
- Uncertainty should be expressed in [Bq/kg] as the combined standard uncertainty (1 sigma level) where all individual sources of uncertainty have been identified and taken into account.
- Undetectable/unquantifiable activities shall be reported as below the value of the method detection limit in [Bq/kg], such as <0.1 [Bq/kg].
- The target date for result reporting is 30 of November 2025.
