With the aim of guaranteeing the quality of the tests and the traceability of the results, URAIS regularly participates in intercomparison exercises organised by national and international organisations.
Among these are the programmes coordinated by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the Nuclear Safety Council (CSN), in collaboration with the Centre for Energy, Environmental and Technological Research (CIEMAT), as well as other specific exercises organised by different entities.
Last year, the following exercises were participated in:
Intercomparison exercise organized by the organization: Proftest SYKE
Organization: Proftest SYKE
Period: May 2025
Matrix: Water
Tests to be performed: Determination of Rn-222 (radon) in two groundwater samples
Number of participating laboratories: 30-35
Note: Tests included in the scope of accreditation: radon activity (1/7)
Intercomparison exercise organized by the organization: "International Agency of Atomic Energy (IAEA)".
Agency: International Agency for Atomic Energy (IAEA)
Period: May 2025-October 2025
Matrix and assays:
· 2 water samples (water spiked with naturally occurring and anthropogenic radionuclides; Water sample containing environmentally occurring radionuclides)
· 1 Soil containing environmentally occurring radionuclides
· 1 Vegetation containing environmentally occurring radionuclides
· A set of simulated contaminated surface samples including quality control and blank Samples
Number of participating laboratories: 300
Note: Tests included in the scope of accreditation: Total alpha index, total beta index, tritium activity, gamma spectrometry and uranium-238, 234 activity (5/7)
Analytical intercomparison exercise organized by CSN-CIEMAT.
Organization: Nuclear Safety Council (CSN)
Period: September 2025-November 2025
Matrix: Sediment
Tests performed: Determination of U-234, U-238, U-235, Th-230, Th-232, Ra-226, Pb-210, Ra-228, Ac-228, Tl-208, Pb-214, Bi-214, Bi-212, Pb-212, Tl-208, K-40, Cs-137, Cs-134, Co-57, Co-60, Sr-90, Am-241.
Number of participating laboratories: between 40-50
Note: Matrix not included in the scope of accreditation.
