Application of workplace correction factors to dosemeter results for the assessment of personal doses at nuclear facilities

Ratios of H(p)(10) and H*(10) were determined with reference instruments in a number of workplace fields within the nuclear industry and used to derive workplace-specific correction factors. When commercial survey meter results together with these factors were applied to the results of the locally used personal dosemeters their results improved and became within 0.7 and 1.7 of the reference values or better depending on the response of the survey meter. A similar result was obtained when a correction was determined with a prototype reference instrument for H(p)(10) after adjustment of its response. Commercially available survey instruments both for photon and neutron H*(10) measurements agreed with the reference instruments in most cases to within 0.5-1.5. Those conclusions are derived from results reported within the EC supported EVIDOS contract.     

SYBR<Superscript>®</Superscript>Green qPCR methods for detection of endogenous reference genes in commodity crops: a step ahead in combinatory screening of genetically modified crops in food and feed products

Identification of crops present in food and/or feed matrices represents an important step in the screening strategies targeting genetically modified organisms (GMO). Soybean, maize, oilseed rape, rice, cotton, sugar beet and potato are to date the most important sources of genetically modified materials imported in the European Union (EU). In order to allow detection of their presence in an integrated screening approach, a set of SYBR^®Green real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) methods has been developed which can be used under the same assay conditions and at similar efficiency for each of the abovementioned crops. Each qPCR method is shown to meet the performance criteria (i.e. specificity, limit of detection and PCR efficiency) set by the European Network of GMO Laboratories (ENGL). When combined with the equivalent qPCR methods targeting GMO elements, these crop-specific SYBR^®Green qPCR methods can aid the development of an efficient tool for determining GMO presence in food and/or feed products.