Radioactive decay and other nuclear reactions are randomly occurring events, and therefore must be described quantitatively in statistical terms. Not only is there constant change in the activity of a specific sample due to the half-life of the radionuclide, but there is also a fluctuation in the decay rate of a sample from one instant to the next due to the random nature of radioactive decay.
Radioactive sample counting forms the basis of routine diagnostic tests such as the measurement of Glomerular Filtration Rate. Further applications include measuring pharmacokinetics and performing dosimetry for new pharmaceutical products, as well as performing leak tests for sealed sources and environmental contamination surveys.
The purpose of this book is to provide information and advice on radioactive sample counting to students, clinical scientists, researchers and industrial partners, and to outline example applications.
Radioactive Sample Counting: Principles and Practice (Second edition)