ASTM D8293-22

Standard Guide for Evaluating and Expressing the Uncertainty of Radiochemical Measurements

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 This guide is intended to help testing laboratories and the developers of methods and software for those laboratories to apply the concepts of measurement uncertainty to radiochemical analyses.  
5.2 The result of a laboratory measurement never exactly equals the true value of the measurand. The difference between the two is called the error of the measurement. An estimate of the possible magnitude of this error is called the uncertainty of the measurement. While the error is primarily a theoretical concept, since its value is never known, the uncertainty has practical uses. Together, the measured value and its uncertainty allow one to place bounds on the likely true value of the measurand.  
5.3 Reliable measurement-based decision making requires not only measured values but also an indication of their uncertainty. Traditionally, significant figures have been used with varying degrees of success to indicate implicitly the order of magnitude of measurement uncertainties; however, reporting an explicit uncertainty estimate with each result is more reliable and informative, and is considered an industry-standard best practice.
SCOPE
1.1 This guide provides concepts, terminology, symbols, and recommendations for the evaluation and expression of the uncertainty of radiochemical measurements of water and other environmental media by testing laboratories. It applies to measurements of radionuclide activities, including gross activities, regardless of whether they involve chemical preparation of the samples.  
1.2 This guide does not provide a complete tutorial on measurement uncertainty. Interested readers should refer to the documents listed in Section 2 and References for more information. See, for example, GUM, QUAM, Taylor and Kuyatt (1)2, and Chapter 19 of MARLAP (2).  
1.3 The system of units for this guide is not specified. Dimensional quantities in the guide are presented only as illustrations of calculation methods. The examples are not binding on products or test methods treated.  
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.  
1.5 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 14-Jul-2022
• ICS: 07.030 - Physics. Chemistry
• ICS: 71.040.40 - Chemical analysis
• Technical Committee: D19 - Water
• Drafting Committee: D19.04 - Methods of Radiochemical Analysis

Relations

• Refers: ASTM D7902-20 - Standard Terminology for Radiochemical Analyses
• Effective Date: 01-May-2020
• Refers: ASTM E898-20 - Standard Practice for Calibration of Non-Automatic Weighing Instruments
• Effective Date: 01-May-2020

Standards Content (Sample)

This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation: D8293 − 22
Standard Guide for
Evaluating and Expressing the Uncertainty of
1
Radiochemical Measurements
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D8293; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope 2. Referenced Documents
3
1.1 This guide provides concepts, terminology, symbols, 2.1 ASTM Standards:
and recommendations for the evaluation and expression of the D1129 Terminology Relating to Water
uncertainty of radiochemical measurements of water and other D7902 Terminology for Radiochemical Analyses
environmental media by testing laboratories. It applies to E177 Practice for Use of the Terms Precision and Bias in
measurements of radionuclide activities, including gross ASTM Test Methods
activities, regardless of whether they involve chemical prepa- E288 Specification for Laboratory Glass Volumetric Flasks
ration of the samples. E438 Specification for Glasses in Laboratory Apparatus
E456 Terminology Relating to Quality and Statistics
1.2 This guide does not provide a complete tutorial on
E542 Practice for Gravimetric Calibration of Laboratory
measurement uncertainty. Interested readers should refer to the
Volumetric Instruments
documents listed in Section 2 and References for more
E617 Specification for Laboratory Weights and Precision
information. See, for example, GUM, QUAM, Taylor and
2
Mass Standards
Kuyatt (1) , and Chapter 19 of MARLAP (2).
E898 Practice for Calibration of Non-Automatic Weighing
1.3 The system of units for this guide is not specified.
Instruments
Dimensional quantities in the guide are presented only as
E969 Specification for Glass Volumetric (Transfer) Pipets
illustrations of calculation methods. The examples are not
E1272 Specification for Laboratory Glass Graduated Cylin-
binding on products or test methods treated.
ders
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
E2655 Guide for Reporting Uncertainty of Test Results and
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
Use of the Term Measurement Uncertainty in ASTM Test
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro- Methods
4
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
2.2 ANSI Standards:
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
ANSI N42.23 Measurement and Associated Instrumentation
1.5 This international standard was developed in accor-
Quality Assurance for Radioassay Laboratories
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
2.3 BIPM Documents:
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
GUM: JCGM 100:2008 Evaluation of measurement data—
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom- 5
Guide to the expression of uncertainty in measurement
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
JCGM 101:2008 Evaluation of measurement data—
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
1 3
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D19 on Water and is For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D19.04 on Methods of Radiochemical contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
Analysis. Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
Current edition approved July 15, 2022. Published February 2023. Originally the ASTM website.
4
approved in 2019. Last previous edition approved in 2019 as D8293 – 19. DOI: Available from American National Standards Institute (ANSI), 25 W. 43rd St.,
10.1520/D8293-22. 4th Floor, New York, NY 10036, http://www.ansi.org.
2 5
The boldface numbers in parentheses refer to the list of references at the end of Available from www.bipm.org/utils/common/documents/jcgm/JCGM_100_
this standard. 2008_E.pdf, accessed January 2021.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
D8293 − 22
Supplement 1 to the “Guide to the expression of uncer- 3.2.2 subsampling factor, F , n—ratio of the massic or
S
tainty in measurement”—Propagation of distributions us- volumic activity of a subsample to that of the sample from
6
ing a Monte Carlo method which it is taken.
JCGM 102:2011 Evaluation of measurement data—
4. Summary of Practice
Supplement 2 to the “Guide to the expression of uncer-
tainty in measurement”—Extension to any number of 4.1 General rules and rec
...

This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation: D8293 − 19 D8293 − 22
Standard Guide for
Evaluating and Expressing the Uncertainty of
1
Radiochemical Measurements
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D8293; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope
1.1 This guide provides concepts, terminology, symbols, and recommendations for the evaluation and expression of the
uncertainty of radiochemical measurements of water and other environmental media by testing laboratories. It applies to
measurements of radionuclide activities, including gross activities, regardless of whether they involve chemical preparation of the
samples.
1.2 This guide does not provide a complete tutorial on measurement uncertainty. Interested readers should refer to the documents
2
listed in Section 2 and References for more information. See, for example, GUM, QUAM, Taylor and Kuyatt (1) , and Chapter
19 of MARLAP (2).
1.3 The system of units for this guide is not specified. Dimensional quantities in the guide are presented only as illustrations of
calculation methods. The examples are not binding on products or test methods treated.
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility
of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of
regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.5 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization
established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued
by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
2. Referenced Documents
3
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D1129 Terminology Relating to Water
D7902 Terminology for Radiochemical Analyses
E177 Practice for Use of the Terms Precision and Bias in ASTM Test Methods
E288 Specification for Laboratory Glass Volumetric Flasks
E438 Specification for Glasses in Laboratory Apparatus
E456 Terminology Relating to Quality and Statistics
E542 Practice for Gravimetric Calibration of Laboratory Volumetric Instruments
E617 Specification for Laboratory Weights and Precision Mass Standards
1
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D19 on Water and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D19.04 on Methods of Radiochemical Analysis.
Current edition approved Nov. 15, 2019July 15, 2022. Published December 2020February 2023. Originally approved in 2019. Last previous edition approved in 2019 as
D8293 – 19. DOI: 10.1520/D8293-19.10.1520/D8293-22.
2
The boldface numbers in parentheses refer to the list of references at the end of this standard.
3
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
D8293 − 22
E898 Practice for Calibration of Non-Automatic Weighing Instruments
E969 Specification for Glass Volumetric (Transfer) Pipets
E1272 Specification for Laboratory Glass Graduated Cylinders
E2655 Guide for Reporting Uncertainty of Test Results and Use of the Term Measurement Uncertainty in ASTM Test Methods
4
2.2 ANSI Standards:
ANSI N42.23 Measurement and Associated Instrumentation Quality Assurance for Radioassay Laboratories
2.3 BIPM Documents:
5
GUM: JCGM 100:2008 Evaluation of measurement data—Guide to the expression of uncertainty in measurement
JCGM 101:2008 Evaluation of measurement data—Supplement 1 to the “Guide to the expression of uncertainty in
6
measurement”—Propagation of distributions using a Monte Carlo method
JCGM 102:2011 Evaluation of measurement data—Supplement 2 to the “Guide to the expression of uncertainty in
7
measurement”—Extension to any number of quantities
8
JCGM 200:2008 International vocabulary of metrology—Basic and general concepts and associated terms (VIM)
2.4 OIML Documents:
9
OIML D 28: 2004 (E) Conventional value of the result of weighing in air
2.5 Eurachem Guides:
10
QUAM Quantifying Uncertai
...