Statistical Analysis of Nondestructive Radioassay System Measurements of Transuranic Waste

A statistical analysis of the measurement performance of five nondestructive assay (NDA) systems currently in use for radioassay of nuclear waste was performed. Relative bias, precision, and reported vs. actual measurement uncertainty were assessed based on measurements of twenty-one real transuranic waste drums. The analysis found significant differences between the systems in the reported mass values for both total plutonium and Significant differences in the precision of measurements was evident as well for total plutonium, but not for measurement error values often underestimated actual values for certain waste configurations. 241Am.241Am. Reported