- Fastscan - a Computerized, Anthropometrically Designed, High Throughput, Whole Body Counter for the Nuclear Industry

In the past ten years, the use of whole body counters in nuclear power plants has grown significantly. The average counting load is now 2000 5000 counts per year at a typical multi-unit station. This paper reports the results of our evaluation as to the desirable characteristics of a whole body counting system and the performance of the FASTSCAN counter. FASTSCAN is a linear geometry counter, designed to accurately measure inhaled or ingested radioactivity in subjects covering 99% of the size range of the working population (both male and female). Its sensitivity is such that a typical MDL is less than 5 nCi of Cs-137 or Co-60 in a one-minute count. There are no moving parts to break or slow down the subject's entrance and exit. The software performs complete nuclide identification and quantification. It uses peak searching and detection techniques to allow for the identification and calculation of unexpected nuclides and to allow the user to quickly perform his own efficiency calibrations. The operator interacts with a menu-driven program, which is easy to understand by a technician, but flexible enough to allow a wide variety of special procedures by the sophisticated user. The program is also designed to allow it to be easily modified for customer-specific data collection formats and report generation formats. DESIGN PHILOSOPHY OF THE FASTSCAN