[en] A decommissioning project provides a variety of challenges to the analytical skills and resources of the radiochemist. Unlike an operating facility where the processes are established or a commercial laboratory where the facility is equipped to handle a vast array of sample media, the decommissioning laboratory is usually equipped with the bare essentials required for analytical procedures. While the equipment is limited, the variety of sample media and requests for quantitative results are not. Since analytical results often guide the sampling and work plan, sample turnaround time must be kept to a minimum. A liquid scintillation counter with spectral capabilities can be a versatile element in the laboratory. This paper examines the successes and lessons learned using a standard liquid scintillation counting system for selected analyses. The analytical methods discussed include: tritium in concrete, graphite, smears, nonaqueous liquids and bioassay samples; the effects of quench on sensitivities and meeting unconditional release criteria; the use of liquid scintillation counting for beta spectroscopy to identify and quantify pure beta emitters in graphite, water and other media. (author)