title: Radionuclide metrology in the life sciences: recent advances and future trends.
abstract: This paper reviews activities in the field of radionuclide metrology applied to the life sciences between the years 2000 and 2005. The requirements for accuracy and consistency in making radioactivity measurements in radiation medicine, coupled with an increased awareness of the role of measurement standards in quality assurance programmes, has prompted a great deal of research in this area. During the past 5 years, particular emphasis has been on: (1) the development of primary standards for radionuclides, (2) development of secondary/transfer standards, (3) development of radionuclide standards for brachytherapy, and (4) inter-laboratory comparisons at the end-user level. Activities carried out by National Metrology Institutions in these areas are reviewed and a look at future trends is presented.
authors.affiliation: Dosimetry and Medical Radiation Physics Section, Division of Human Health, International Atomic Energy Agency, Wagramer Strasse 5, Box 200, A-1400 Vienna, Austria. b.zimmerman@iaea.org
authors.forename: B E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Zimmerman
mesh_terms: D001690:Biological Science Disciplines / Q000639:trends*; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D038622:Internationality; D009683:Nuclear Medicine / Q000639:trends*; D011868:Radioisotopes / Q000032:analysis*; D011874:Radiometry / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards* / Q000639:trends*; D012015:Reference Standards; D012016:Reference Values
chemical_list: D011868:Radioisotopes