Supporting the nuclear industry
The nuclear industry proficiency test exercise (PTE) is a scheme during which a 200 L drum of ‘simulated’ waste is produced by NPL. This waste drum contains inactive low-density material with vials of resin, in initially undisclosed locations spiked with gamma-emitting radionuclides of known activity. The drum is sent to participating laboratories, who then measure the drum using a non-destructive method. A single report is produced summarising all the results and data analysis.
This exercise is intended for laboratories who routinely handle and perform non-destructive measurements of waste drums. In order to participate laboratories must be able to handle and receive packages of radioactive material, excepted packages – limited quantity of material, under applicable dangerous goods regulations. They must also be able to load and unload with a forklift.
Current exercise (2025)
The 2025 exercise is currently underway. The deadline for participation in this exercise has passed. The schedule for the ongoing exercise is provided in the table below:
| Action |
Dates |
| NPL to contact each laboratory, advise if they can be accommodated, and, if so, agree receipt and dispatch dates |
By 18th June 2025 |
| Participants to submit purchase orders |
Within two weeks of notification of receipt and despatch dates |
| UK Participants to measure drum |
Within agreed dates in the period 4th of July to 12th September 2025 |
| Non-UK Participants to measure drum |
Within agreed dates in the period 12th September 2025 and 12th of December 2025 |
| Participants to submit results (not knowing location of resin bottles) |
By 16th January 2026 (‘first deadline’) |
| NPL to disclose location of resin bottles |
23rd January 2026 |
| Participants, if they wish, to submit additional results |
By 6th February 2026 (‘second deadline’) |
| NPL to disclose activity concentrations |
13th February 2026 |
| NPL to issue report |
March 2026 |
Past exercises (2021)
The last exercise was the 2021 nuclear industry PTE which concluded in 2022. For a copy of the report please make a request via the ‘contact us’ section below.
Further information
The PTE item (drum) for this exercise will be produced using NPL standards added gravimetrically. The Assigned Value for each radionuclide will be calculated from the division of the standardised activity per unit mass of the original standard solution. The activities per unit mass of the radionuclides in the drum are traceable to national standards of radioactivity, and therefore to the international measurement system.
Please be aware when using the PT items for validation that they are frequently produced from standards of radioactivity supplied by NPL.
Participants’ results will be analysed to provide the deviation, and the associated standard uncertainty, from the NPL assigned value(s). It is expected that assigned values will be provided for all individual radionuclides.
Specific information on determination of the assigned value and how performance is evaluated will be detailed in the associated NPL report.
Other exercises
There is interest in using a similar approach to produce a 1m3 ‘bag’ PTE in addition to or as an alternative to the drum. If you are interested in either of these exercises, please contact us.
For questions, queries and comments relating to the nuclear industry PTE scheme please contact us.
PTE
NPL also provide radioactive standards, calibrations and consultations. For information related to this please contact us.
Contact us