ASTM D8537-23
(Guide)Standard Guide for Analysis of Calibration Data for Nuclear Instruments
Standard Guide for Analysis of Calibration Data for Nuclear Instruments
SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 The mathematical and statistical techniques described in this guide support implementation of the calibration requirements of Practice D7282 and the guidance for uncertainty analysis given in Guide D8293. The guidance is intended for use either by qualified specialists at a radioanalytical laboratory or by developers of software for calibration of nuclear instruments.
5.2 Applications for single-point calibrations might include:
5.2.1 Alpha-particle spectrometry,
5.2.2 Gas proportional counters used for thin sources with negligible attenuation, and
5.2.3 Gamma-ray spectrometers used for single nuclides.
5.3 Applications for calibration curves determined by LLS might include:
5.3.1 Mass attenuation curves for gas proportional counters (polynomial), and
5.3.2 Quench calibration curves for liquid scintillation counters (polynomial).
5.4 Applications for calibration curves determined by NLLS might include:
5.4.1 Gamma-ray spectrometry across a range of gamma-ray energies,
5.4.2 Mass attenuation curves for gas proportional counters, and
5.4.3 Quench calibration curves for liquid scintillation counters.
5.5 Although this guide focuses on efficiency calibrations for nuclear instruments, the same general principles and paradigms should apply to other types of calibrations and to other instruments, as long as there are valid uncertainty models for the calibration data.
SCOPE
1.1 This guide describes data analysis for efficiency calibrations of nuclear instruments using radioactive sources. It includes the calculation of the calibration parameters, evaluation and use of their uncertainties and covariances, and testing of the calibration data for outliers and overall lack of fit. It also provides guidelines for summarizing and reporting the results of a calibration.
1.2 The instrument counting efficiency is assumed to be independent of the radiation emission rate.
1.3 Guidance is provided for both single-point calibrations and calibration curves.
1.4 The guidance presumes the existence of measurement uncertainty models to provide statistical weighting factors for the calibration data.
1.5 This guide does not cover calibrations involving physically-based computer simulations.
1.6 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.
1.7 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.
1.8 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
Relations
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: D8537 − 23
Standard Guide for
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Analysis of Calibration Data for Nuclear Instruments
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D8537; 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
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1.1 This guide describes data analysis for efficiency calibra- 2.1 ASTM Standards:
tions of nuclear instruments using radioactive sources. It D1129 Terminology Relating to Water
includes the calculation of the calibration parameters, evalua- D7282 Practice for Setup, Calibration, and Quality Control
tion and use of their uncertainties and covariances, and testing of Instruments Used for Radioactivity Measurements
of the calibration data for outliers and overall lack of fit. It also D7902 Terminology for Radiochemical Analyses
provides guidelines for summarizing and reporting the results D8293 Guide for Evaluating and Expressing the Uncertainty
of a calibration. of Radiochemical Measurements
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2.2 JCGM Documents:
1.2 The instrument counting efficiency is assumed to be
GUM:JCGM 100:2008 Evaluation of measurement data—
independent of the radiation emission rate.
Guide to the expression of uncertainty in measurement
1.3 Guidance is provided for both single-point calibrations
JCGM 102:2011 Evaluation of measurement data—
and calibration curves.
Supplement 2 to the “Guide to the expression of uncer-
1.4 The guidance presumes the existence of measurement
tainty in measurement”—Extension to any number of
uncertainty models to provide statistical weighting factors for
quantities
the calibration data.
VIM:JCGM 200:2008 International vocabulary of
metrology—Basic and general concepts and associated
1.5 This guide does not cover calibrations involving
terms (VIM)
physically-based computer simulations.
1.6 The system of units for this guide is not specified.
3. Terminology
Dimensional quantities in the guide are presented only as
3.1 Definitions:
illustrations of calculation methods. The examples are not
3.1.1 For definitions of terms used in this practice, refer to
binding on products or test methods treated.
Terminologies D1129 and D7902, Practice D7282,
1.7 This standard does not purport to address all of the
GUM:JCGM 100, JCGM 102, and VIM:JCGM 200.
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
3.2.1 calibration curve, n—functional model that calculates
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
counting efficiency from the value of a predictor variable and
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
one or more model parameters; also known as an effıciency
1.8 This international standard was developed in accor-
curve.
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
3.2.1.1 Discussion—A calibration “curve” might be a linear
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
or nonlinear function of the predictor variable.
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
3.2.2 calibration parameter, n—any of the parameters in a
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
calibration model whose values are determined by a calibration
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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 service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
Analysis. Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
Current edition approved Nov. 15, 2023. Published December 2023. DOI: the ASTM website.
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10.1520/D8537-23. Available from www.bipm.org.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
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D8537 − 23
and subsequently used together with observed values of the 4.3.2 A calibration curve (or line), typically polynomial,
predictor variable to calculate counting efficiencies. determined by linear least squares (LLS), and
4.3.3 A calibration curve determined by nonlinear least
3.2.3 calibration range, n—interval between the least and
squares (NLLS).
greatest values of the predictor variable for which a calibration
curve is considered valid. 4.4 In each
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