Nonradioactive Samples

• Equipment: All imaging instruments and sample prep equipment may be used in MaCS for nonradioactive materials.
• All imaging and sample prep activities shall be performed in accordance with CAES Operating Procedures.

Radioactive Samples

Materials: Radioactive material requests are evaluated as they are made, with consideration given to 1) whether the cumulative CAES inventory limit will be exceeded and 2) changing the CAES operating envelope for radiological materials.

The current rad operating envelope includes depleted uranium, solid activated ceramics, and fixed radiation sources. Depleted uranium may be in solid forms. Fixed radiation sources include activated metals: solid, non-dispersible, smearably clean (i.e., considered to be free of removable radioactive contamination) samples of activated metal and solid ceramic materials that are prepared to minimize sample mass and have a gamma dose rate of less than 70 millirem per hour at 30 centimeters are generally acceptable for analysis and testing in CAES.

• Sample Receipt: Every effort should be made to send samples as clean as possible (i.e. minimize the removable contamination). The shipper must follow all applicable DOT shipping requirements, and inner containers including sample holders will be less than 7 dpm/100 cm2 alpha and 70 dpm/100 cm2 beta/gamma. If the measured activity levels of materials are not consistent with the types and levels specified in the shipping manifest and approved RPR13, if the sample containers are at all compromised, or the number of, or labeling of samples no not match the information provided by the researcher/shipper, the materials will be immediately returned to the shipper.
• Sample Preparation: Minor sample touch-up is the only sample prep activity allowed for radioactive samples. Touch-up shall be performed in accordance with CAES Operating Procedures, with each activity planned and approved on a project-by-project basis. Some nuclides may prove to be unacceptable for sample preparation until Phase 2. This reinforces the need to fully vet sample prep activities in the service request step of the process.
• Equipment: All imaging equipment may be used for radiological sample analysis.

Starting from October 1st, 2024, MaCS scheduling will be managed by INL and switched to the INL P6 system. The MaCS team collaborates with INL MFC P6 schedulers on the tool schedules. To request tool time at MaCS, users may either talk to MaCS Instrument Leads or send emails to [email protected]. A scope of work and an acknowledgement of non-export-controlled project will be required before any tests can be performed at MaCS. Trained/signed-off users can request off-hour sessions.

Complete the following:

1. CAES Facility Orientation
2. Core Lab Training
3. MaCS Specific Lab Training
   • The Lab Lead walk through will be conducted before you begin working in MaCS by the Lab Lead or Alternate Designee.

The MaCS lab is a radiological laboratory, therefore radiological and non radiological MaCS workers must complete Idaho State University (ISU) radiological training.

View the Guidelines and Agreement for MaCS.