Radiology section

Head of the Unit – Pranas Drulia

Radiology Section was established in 1961. Then samples were taken in 6 monitoring stations. Milk samples used to be taken on a quarterly basis, meat and fish samples in spring and autumn, vegetables - by the end of summer, mushrooms - during the mushroom season. In 1965 the data was provided on activeness of caesium-137 and strontium-90 radio nuclides in soil, plant and animal origin production.

The Section performs functions of the state veterinary in the sphere of radiology on protection of people and animals from harmful impact of ionising radiation. In the sphere of radiation security the department co-ordinates and executes state monitoring programmes for radiological contamination of animals, animal and plant raw materials, foodstuffs, feedstuffs and their raw materials and freshwater fish. It also executes control of goods imported from the third countries and certifies the production exported from Lithuania. Pursuant to the sample taking rules veterinarians-inspectors deliver to the laboratory milk, meat, egg, wild fauna, feed-stuff, vegetable, forest mushroom and berry samples taken from various regions of the country. Agencies of the State Food and Veterinary Service, other institutions and private persons follow the test results pursuant to the procedure established by the legal acts.

The received samples are registered in the division for registration of foodstuff samples within the Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS). Samples are coded and delivered to the sample preparation laboratory. Meat, fish, vegetable and feedstuff samples prepared for caesium-137 tests are placed into Marinelli form measuring vessel, are weighed and brought to the sample measuring laboratory. Marinelli vessel with a sample is placed into the semiconductor gamma spectrometer ORTEC lead shied cabin; GAMMA VISION investigation programme processes and prints test results. Afterwards the results are analysed, entered into the LIMS system and generalised in the investigation protocol.

For investigation of beta radio nuclides such as strontium-90, the samples are prepared in the laboratory of radiochemistry research. Preparation of a sample (prior to measurement) lasts 4-6 days. Then primary desiccation, burning in the heating oven, emission of radiochemical radio nuclides and transfer of a sample into measuring dishes is executed. Samples are measured by the BECMAN scintillation counter. Afterwards the measurement data is evaluated.

The section applies modern blood biochemical investigation methods providing for rapid and accurate evaluation of physiological state of animals. Automatic blood biochemical investigation analyser COBAS INTEGRA 400 PLUS is used for blood biochemical tests. Upon execution of the devise control, blood sample tapes are placed into a devise and the requested indicators are defined, such as micro and macro elements, proteins and their fractions, various hepatic and kidney enzymes. After investigation the results are printed out.

Beside the direct research activity the department provides methodological assistance, organises various workshops, comparative laboratory tests for specialists of the State Food and Veterinary Service executing radiology tests.