Assessment of the proficiency test on the determination of 137Cs and 210Pb in spiked soil

This article summarized the results on the IAEA-CU-2006-02 proficiency test on the determination of 137Cs and 210Pb in spiked soil. LabSOCS(Laboratory Sourceless Calibration Software) was used to perform mathematical efficiency calibration of HPGe low-background gamma-spectrometry. The analytical data evaluation of this proficiency test according to the performance criteria of IAEA indicated that 100% of the laboratory of the Institute of Agricultural Environment and Sustainable Development reported 'acceptable' results for the 137Cs and 210Pb. And the analytical data evaluation of this proficiency test in IAEA's report indicated that 82% of the eighteen laboratories reported 'acceptable' results for 137Cs and 33% for 210Pb. Through this proficiency test, we could know the successful experiences and existed shortcomings. The uncertainty of 137Cs measurement was lower than 210Pb, the analytical error was easy to control. 210Pb was the inherent radionuclides existed in the soil, the penetrating power was low, influenced by the soil parent material and the background, the analytical error was difficult to control. (authors)