title: The RENEB operational basis: complement of established biodosimetric assays.
abstract: To set up an operational basis of the Realizing the European Network of Biodosimetry (RENEB) network within which the application of seven established biodosimetric tools (the dicentric assay, the FISH assay, the micronucleus assay, the PCC assay, the gamma-H2AX assay, electron paramagnetic resonance and optically stimulated luminescence) will be compared and standardized among the participating laboratories.
  
  
  
  Two intercomparisons were organized where blood samples and smartphone components were irradiated, coded and sent out to participating laboratories for dosimetric analysis. Moreover, an accident exercise was organized during which each RENEB partner had the chance to practice the procedure of activating the network and to handle large amounts of dosimetric results.
  
  
  
  All activities were carried out as planned. Overall, the precision of dose estimates improved between intercomparisons 1 and 2, clearly showing the value of running such regular activities.
  
  
  
  The RENEB network is fully operational and ready to act in case of a major radiation emergency. Moreover, the high capacity for analyzing radiation-induced damage in cells and personal electronic devices makes the network suitable for large-scale analyses of low doses effects, where high numbers of samples must be scored in order to detect weak effects.
authors: a Department of Molecular Biosciences , Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden and Jan Kochanowski University, Institute for Biology , Kielce , Poland .
authors: Andrzej
authors: A
authors: Wojcik
authors: b Bundesamt fuer Strahlenschutz, Department Radiation Protection and Health , Neuherberg , Germany.
authors: Ursula
authors: U
authors: Oestreicher
authors: c Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona , Barcelona , Spain.
authors: Lleonard
authors: L
authors: Barrios
authors: d Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences , Universiteit Gent , Gent , Belgium.
authors: Anne
authors: A
authors: Vral
authors: e National Center for Scientific Research "Demokritos" , Athens , Greece.
authors: Georgia
authors: G
authors: Terzoudi
authors: f Public Health England, CRCE , Chilton , Didcot , Oxon , UK.
authors: Elizabeth
authors: E
authors: Ainsbury
authors: f Public Health England, CRCE , Chilton , Didcot , Oxon , UK.|g University Medical Center Hamburg , Laboratory of Radiation Biology , Hamburg , Germany.
authors: Kai
authors: K
authors: Rothkamm
authors: h Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire , Fontenay-aux-Roses , France.
authors: Francois
authors: F
authors: Trompier
authors: b Bundesamt fuer Strahlenschutz, Department Radiation Protection and Health , Neuherberg , Germany.
authors: Ulrike
authors: U
authors: Kulka
mesh_terms: D001681:Biological Assay / Q000379:methods*; D004630:Emergencies; D005060:Europe; D006801:Humans; D007753:Laboratories / Q000458:organization & administration; D009937:Organizational Objectives; D000069079:Radiation Exposure / Q000032:analysis* / Q000517:prevention & control; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011834:Radiation Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D011835:Radiation Protection / Q000379:methods*; D013673:Technology Assessment, Biomedical
keywords: Biological dosimetry; dosimetry network; intercomparison; radiation emergency