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Recovering your samples

Here is the procedure to recover samples post-experiment and to take them from the ILL.

  1. Verify the activity of the sample on the instrument.  If the radioactivity is below the acceptable level
  2. Bring the QR-labeled sample to the appropriate verification station
  3. Wait for the e-mail from your friendly Raioprotection Agent
  4. Act on the e-mail 

Before taking a sample from an experimental area, use the RADOS portable dosimetry device to check the radioactivity of the sample.

A Rados device is available on every instrument.  Ask your Local Contact where to find it.

  1. Switch on the RADOS and leave for a few seconds to measure the ambient radiation background.
  2. Bring the RADOS close to the sample, ideally in contact with it, and leave for a few seconds.

The sample can only be brought to Radioprotection for verification if the RADOS reading from the sample is the same as the ambient background.

The sample must remain in a secure location of the instrument zone if it shows a RADOS reading higher than the ambient background.  Ask your Local Contact for more details.

 

If, and only if, the sample activity is not measureable with the RADOS, you may bring it to the appropriate Verification Station.

There are two verification stations:

  • There is a Verification Station by the Chartreuse exit to the Guide Hall experimental areas.  This is the ILL7/22 Verification Station. 
  • There is a Verification Station by the ground floor exit to the Reactor Hall experimental area.  This is the ILL5 Verification Station.

Both Verification stations have two cupboards.

One is labelled Sample Drop-off.  You may leave your samples here for verification by a Radioprotection Agent.

The ILL7/22 Verification Station also has a refrigerator for temperature-sensitive samples.  There are two shelves inside the refrigerator.

One is labelled Sample Drop-off.  You may leave your temperature-sensitive samples here for verification by a Radioprotection Agent.

 

Radioprotection agents will pass by the Verification Stations twice per weekday: 10:30 and 15:00.

They will check the activity levels for your sample(s) and will send you and you local contact an e-mail.

There are three possible outcomes:

active

You will receive the following e-mail:

User name : <Your name>,

ILL Proposal number: <Your proposal number>

Sample : <Your sample>

Your sample has been monitored by a member of the ILL Health Physics staff.

It has been found to be active and cannot be released. It must be stored in the instrument zone until its activity falls to an acceptable level.

Your Local Contact will show you the appropriate place to store the sample in the instrument zone.

The sample is currently in the sample pick-up cupboard. Please come to collect it as soon as possible.

If you want more information about sample decay, contact <Agent name>.

Member of Health Physics staff :<Agent name>

This is an automatic notification, please do not reply to this email.

More information

You will receive the following e-mail:

User name : <Your name>,

ILL Proposal number: <Your proposal number>

Sample : <Your sample>

Your sample has been monitored by a member of the ILL Health Physics staff.

Health Physics requires more information before the sample can be released.

Please contact the Health Physics Agent listed below to organise for your sample to be monitored while either you or your Local Contact are present.

You may contact the Health Physics Agent during working hours: 
           8:00 – 16:00, Monday – Friday

 

The sample is currently in the sample pick-up cupboard.

Controlled by Health Physics Agent : <Agent name>

This is an automatic notification, please do not reply to this email.

safe

You will receive the following e-mail:

User name : <Your name>,

ILL Proposal number: <Your proposal number>

Sample : <Your sample>

Your sample has been monitored by a member of the ILL Health Physics staff.

It has been found to be safe.  You may recover your sample and take it with you.

The sample is currently in the sample pick-up cupboard. 

Please come to collect it as soon as possible.

 

Controlled by Health Physics Agent : <Agent name>

This is an automatic notification, please do not reply to this email.

If your sample is SAFE, you may recover it from the Sample Pick-Up cupboard at the corresponding Verification Station.

You may safely leave the experimental areas with your sample.

You do not need to contact the Radioprotection Service again for this sample.

Please recover your sample as soon as possible.

If your sample is ACTIVE, it cannot be released from the experimental areas.

You must recover it from the Sample Pick-Up cupboard at the corresponding Verification Station.

You must return it to the instrument zone, storing it in a secure location.

Please coordinate with your Local Contact for the storage.

Please recover your sample as soon as possible.

If MORE INFORMATION IS NEEDED, please contact the Radioprotection Agent responsible for the sample verification.

The corresponding Agent's name is written at the bottom of the e-mail. 

You may contact them from 8:00 - 17:00 from Monday to Friday.  Please contact them at the earliest convenient time.

The sample will remain in the Sample Drop-Off cupboard.