Under the accelerated closure program at the Rocky Flats site, the Kaiser-Hill team required the capability to ship analytical samples to off-site commercial laboratories at a rate that exceeded 1000 samples per week. These samples were analyzed for beryllium, volatile organics, PCBs, asbestos, lead, adionuclides, and other contaminants.

This Technical Paper describes the strategy employed by CANBERRA to characterize entire packages of samples with a single measurement and provide the required characterization data quickly enough to allow shipment within 24 hours of sample delivery.