Automatic Radionuclide Extractor
Background
Radiochemical separations are routinely performed for detecting radioactive contaminants in foods at Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) Winchester Engineering and Analytical Center (WEAC) to support FDA food safety surveillance and compliance programs. The required radiochemical separations are lengthy and repetitive as each sample in a batch must be manually processed by an analyst. Such manual approach in sample preparation for radionuclide analysis is rather laborious, hazardous, and time consuming, which pose significant disadvantages in response to a radiological emergency when a large number of samples must be quickly analyzed. To increase laboratory efficiency and improve operation safety, an automated radionuclide extractor capable of simultaneously processing multiple samples in an unattended manner is needed. Programmable radionuclide extraction system integrated with automatic sample loading, solvent delivery, elution control, and analyte collection is commercially available and readily adaptable to analysis of various radionuclides in food. Implementing automation in radiochemical separations will considerably reduce sample process time, improve data quality, and increase laboratory productivity.
Purpose
The purpose of this acquisition is to:
• Provide and install an automated radionuclide extractor capable of simultaneously processing eight samples for analysis of target radionuclides.
• Demonstrate system functionalities and acceptable performance per manufacturer's specifications after installation.
• Provide onsite training on basic operation, routine maintenance, and system troubleshooting.
Clark B Miller, Contract Specialist, Phone 2404026604, Email clark.miller@fda.hhs.gov
