Clarification of the calculation of minimum detectable activity in low-level radioactivity measurements. (March 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lee, K.B.; Lee, Jong Man; Park, Tae Soon; Lee, Sang Han; Jeong, Meeyoung; Lee, Min-Kie
• Is Part Of: Applied radiation and isotopes. Volume 109(2016:Mar.)
• Page Start: 449
• Page End: 451
• Publication Date: 2016-03
• Subjects: MDA -- Detection limit -- Likelihood ratio ordering principle -- Unified approach; Radiology -- Periodicals; Radiation -- Industrial applications -- Periodicals; Nuclear chemistry -- Periodicals; Internet resource; Periodical; 660.298
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apradiso.2015.11.043
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0969-8043

Abstract

Abstract: We discuss a new method to determine the value of minimum detectable activity (MDA) in low-level measurements. The method is based on the Feldman–Cousins unified approach which effectively combines the construction of confidence intervals with the determination of the decision threshold and MDA. The new method requires a single probability to be pre-specified for the determination of MDA as well as decision threshold and confidence interval, in contrast with the ISO 11929 method requiring three probabilities. Highlights: We discuss a new method to determine the value of minimum detectable activity (MDA). The new method requires only a single probability to be specified in advance. We apply this method to a Poisson-distributed measurand with background. We tabulate the values of MDA for some typical coverage probabilities.