Quality assurance and its implications for the IAEA network of analytical laboratories

During the last few years the importance of good quality assurance programmes in analytical laboratories has become more and more widely recognized. The IAEA has developed a quality control programme for the analysis of spent fuel solutions by isotope dilution mass spectrometry. Uranium and plutonium samples with known isotopic composition have been made up and will be used as reference materials for mass spectrometric measurements. To control the assay determinations by isotope dilution, materials with known amounts of both elements have been prepared. A control schedule has been set up. The results will be statistically evaluated and reported to the laboratory concerned. Some implications for the laboratories and the Agency are discussed. (author)