title: Operational guidance for radiation emergency response organisations in Europe for using biodosimetric tools developed in EU MULTIBIODOSE project.
abstract: In the event of a large-scale radiological emergency, the triage of individuals according to their degree of exposure forms an important initial step of the accident management. Although clinical signs and symptoms of a serious exposure may be used for radiological triage, they are not necessarily radiation specific and can lead to a false diagnosis. Biodosimetry is a method based on the analysis of radiation-induced changes in cells of the human body or in portable electronic devices and enables the unequivocal identification of exposed people who should receive medical treatment. The MULTIBIODOSE (MBD) consortium developed and validated several biodosimetric assays and adapted and tested them as tools for biological dose assessment in a mass-casualty event. Different biodosimetric assays were validated against the 'gold standard' of biological dosimetry-the dicentric assay. The assays were harmonised in such a way that, in an emergency situation, they can be run in parallel in a network of European laboratories. The aim of this guidance is to give a concise overview of the developed biodosimetric tools as well as how and when they can be used in an emergency situation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Monitoring and Research, Norwegian Radiation Protection Authority, Oesteraas, Norway alicja.jaworska@nrpa.no.
authors.forename: Alicja
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jaworska
authors.affiliation: Centre for Radiation, Chemical and Environmental Hazards, Public Health England, Didcot, Oxon, UK.
authors.forename: Elizabeth A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Ainsbury
authors.affiliation: Department Technology and Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fattibene
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Radiation Surveillance, Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Carita
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lindholm
authors.affiliation: Department Radiation Protection and Health, Bundesamt fuer Strahlenschutz, Oberschleissheim, Germany.
authors.forename: Ursula
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Oestreicher
authors.affiliation: Centre for Radiation, Chemical and Environmental Hazards, Public Health England, Didcot, Oxon, UK.
authors.forename: Kai
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rothkamm
authors.affiliation: Department Radiation Protection and Health, Bundesamt fuer Strahlenschutz, Oberschleissheim, Germany.
authors.forename: Horst
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Romm
authors.affiliation: Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiteit Gent, Gent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Hubert
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Thierens
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiobiology and Epidemiology, Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire, Fontenay-aux-roses, France.
authors.forename: Francois
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Trompier
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiobiology and Epidemiology, Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire, Fontenay-aux-roses, France.
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Voisin
authors.affiliation: Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiteit Gent, Gent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vral
authors.affiliation: Institute of Radiation Biology, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Neuherberg, Germany.
authors.forename: Clemens
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Woda
authors.affiliation: Centre for Radiation Protection Research, MBW Department, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Andrzej
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wojcik
mesh_terms: D001681:Biological Assay / Q000592:standards*; D004630:Emergencies; D005060:Europe; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006801:Humans; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D000069079:Radiation Exposure / Q000032:analysis*; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000517:prevention & control; D011834:Radiation Monitoring / Q000592:standards*; D018788:Radioactive Hazard Release; D014218:Triage / Q000379:methods*