Is alpha spectrometry reliable for 210Po urine bioassay?

Typically the bioassay method for 210Po in urine by alpha spectrometry (AS) involves wet decomposition of the sample, which may cause a loss of 210Po if volatile species are present. To test this hypothesis, urine samples collected from two rats that were i.v. administered with polonium citrate were measured by both AS and liquid scintillation counting, where urine samples were mixed with a scintillation cocktail without any treatment. A split-plot design method was used to compare results from the two measurement methods, showing no evidence of a difference between the two methods. This suggests that the AS method is reliable for 210Po urine bioassay. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]