title: Quality control and reliability of reported doses.
abstract: Results of performance tests verifying the dosimetric properties of dosimetric systems are published in various reports (e.g. IAEA and EURADOS). However, there is hardly any information in the open literature relating to the uncertainty in a dose measurement or in the annual dose, which is increased by failure of the evaluation or data management system, damage of the dosemeter itself or by the loss of dosemeter. In this article, an attempt is made to estimate the importance of the above-mentioned conditions. This is achieved by sending questionnaires to about 200 approved dosimetric services in Europe. In total 88 questionnaires were returned and analysed. In the questionnaires, the frequency of occurrence of the various error conditions were investigated. Participants were also asked to evaluate the impact of the error condition from a dosimetric point of view and what countermeasures are taken. The article summarises all responses and compares different sources of errors according to their impact on the uncertainty of the resulting dose and gives a comprehensive overview on quality control actions and reliability on reported doses from European dosimetric services.
authors.affiliation: ARC-Seibersdorf Research GmbH, 2440 Seibersdorf, Austria. Hannes.stadtmann@arcs.ac.at
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Stadtmann
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Figel
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kamenopoulou
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kluszczynski
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Roed
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Van Dijk
mesh_terms: D001822:Body Burden; D003625:Data Collection; D016208:Databases, Factual; D004282:Documentation / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005060:Europe; D017408:Guidelines as Topic / Q000592:standards; D007373:Interinstitutional Relations; D007391:International Cooperation; D019221:Mandatory Reporting; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011786:Quality Control; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011834:Radiation Monitoring / Q000592:standards*; D011835:Radiation Protection / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011874:Radiometry / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012015:Reference Standards; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D017751:Safety Management / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity