Beta Analytic utilizes chemical methods as outlined in ASTM D6866 and other analytical standards. These standards are available for download online for a fee.
Quality control measures at Beta Analytic are designed to ensure the accurate reporting of every result. Internal standards are run daily. Multiple cross-checks (including bar-coding) are performed throughout each analysis. Internal and external controls are analyzed routinely to measure and monitor ongoing laboratory accuracy and reproducibility.
Calculation and reporting of results are performed using in-house software with built-in multiple cross-checks for each result. A broad system of cross-checks comprises 300 pages of quality control commitment outlined in BETA’s ISO-17025 quality assurance documentation.
Beta Analytic’s Quality Assurance Program was annually audited from 1994 through 2008 by the Department of Energy (DOE)/U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management (OCRWM). In 2008 annual QA audits were suspended due to the acceptance of our ISO/IEC 17025:2017 Testing Accreditation as being superior to what even the DOE, USGS and OCRWM required.
Beta Analytic clients receive Quality Assurance reports with their results. The QA report provides the results of reference materials used to validate radiocarbon analyses prior to reporting. Known value reference materials were analyzed quasi-simultaneously with the unknowns. Results are reported as expected values vs measured values. Reported values are calculated relative to NIST SRM-4990C and corrected for isotopic fractionation. Results are reported using the direct analytical measure percent modern carbon (pMC) with one relative standard deviation.