Researchers from the PNRI Nuclear Analytical Techniques Applications Section performing gammametric analysis (above) and liquid scintillation counting (below) for detecting traces of radioactivity in food, water and other products, as well as for advanced studies of isotope composition of samples, among others
Nuclear analytical tech labs earn ISO 17025:2017 accreditation
Ensuring the credibility and unique advantages of nuclear technology in serving the general public, the Department of Science and Technology - Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (DOST-PNRI) is once again accredited under ISO 17025:2017 in the field of chemical testing, covering the laboratories and staff of its Nuclear Analytical Techniques Applications Section (NATAS).
In particular, the scope of the accreditation includes the facilities for gross alpha and beta activity analysis, as well as its gammametric analysis for isotopes such as Cesium-137 and 134, Iodine-131, and Potassium-40.
“Our congratulations to the NATAS team for once again proving the top-notch capabilities of PNRI coupled with technical competence and efficiency in rendering its services,” said Dr. Preciosa Corazon Pabroa, who heads the PNRI Nuclear Services Division.
“We are proud of the Institute’s well-utilized isotope and nuclear analytical technologies, not only in providing invaluable data to our researchers but also in serving clients from various sectors, whose fees are a welcome contribution to the public coffers.”
The various applications of isotopes
Particularly when compared with regular chemical or elemental analysis, isotope-based methods are more foolproof and reliable as they rely on distinctions at the subatomic level. This is because isotopes are atoms of the same element or number of protons but with different numbers of neutrons.
Indeed, studying the myriad differences in the ratio of various isotopes can find applications in ensuring that food and other related products are authentic or unadulterated, and in determining the place of origin of objects. Isotopes are also vital in forensics and archaeology, to name a few.
In other cases, the distinction between stable and radioactive isotopes can tell a lot about an object, such as the age in the case of the well-known process of radioactive carbon dating. In this process, the presence of radioactive Carbon-14, which decays overtime, is compared with the regular stable carbon isotopes.
More directly, detecting which products contain traces of radioisotopes are also crucial in ensuring consumer safety.
Decades of sterling service using isotope-based techniques
Over the years, PNRI has maximized the edge of nuclear techniques over conventional methods of analysis for research applications and regulatory certification of local and export products, among others.
For example, researchers use the Institute’s high-purity germanium detector to perform gammametric analysis, allowing them to detect traces of radionuclides in food and agricultural products both for import and export.
Meanwhile, PNRI’s liquid scintillation counter provides gross alpha and beta analysis of drinking water, helping bottled water providers comply with the regulations of the Food and Drug Administration.
The ISO 17025:2017 certification is the international standard for testing and calibration laboratories, requiring consistent commitment and hardwork in implementing its lab management systems to ensure reliable and accurate results.
PNRI is also certified under ISO 9001:2015 for its quality management system, a distinction it has maintained from its pioneering efforts to cover its Nuclear Regulatory Division in 2008 to expanding the certification to cover the whole agency by 2014.
You may file your requests for Nuclear Analytical Services via our services portal:
https://services.pnri.dost.gov.ph/portal/natas/Apply
You may also view the corresponding fees for NAT services:
https://services.pnri.dost.gov.ph/portal/natas/fee
For further queries, you may contact our Nuclear Analytical Techniques Applications Section through the following contact details:
Trunkline: 8929-6011-19 loc. 276/281
