The University of Arizona

The Radiation Control Office

Multimedia Learning

How to Perform a Wipe Survey

1. Wear gloves and use a piece of filter paper to wipe area of interest.
   1. If a large area is wiped, such as a counter top or the floor, use an S pattern.
2. Immediately place the wipe in a liquid scintillation vial or envelope.
3. Count the sample:
   1. Place the wipe in a liquid scintillation vial with liquid scintillation cocktail (use enough liquid scintillation cocktail to completely submerge the wipe and put a cap on it.
   2. Put the vials to be counted in a liquid scintillation tray. Make sure you include a blank for the background reading.
      1. To prepare a blank put an unused wipe into a vial with liquid scintillation cocktail.
   3. Set to the appropriate parameters.
4. If a sample is more than 50 counts above background the wiped area is considered contaminated.
5. Clean the area and survey it again. If it is a large area break it down to smaller areas with more wipes to help pinpoint the contamination. Wide-area contamination may require the assistance of the RCO.
6. If it is a post-op survey or monthly survey, document the survey on the Radioactive Materials Inventory/Survey Log (RC-048). Sign and date the print out and file for your records, if appropriate.