The NATO nations France, Canada, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, the United Kingdom and the USA all failed to achieve results as good as those obtained by Sweden, that is to say by FOI’s Radiochemical Laboratory in Umeå. This was the outcome when NATO carried out its first laboratory exercise involving radioactive material. This excellent result opens up the possibility that Sweden and FOI will be arranging the next NATO exercise.

In September 2005 each of the eight participating laboratories were provided with samples of four different types: air filter, soil, water and a swab sample. The results of analysis were to be reported in two stages.

The initial report had to be submitted after 24 hours’ laboratory work, i.e. after three working days and the second report was required after one month (real time). The task included describing the measures taken prior to analysis and determination of the nuclides present in the sample and the associated activities. The laboratories were given a scenario associated with each sample and were required to produce a briefing for a hypothetical commander covering the implications of the analysis results together with recommendations for the actions to be taken in the field.

In their 24-hour report the FOI laboratory had already identified all the nuclides and, for three of these, had also correctly determined the associated activity. The fourth sample, the swab, contained strontium 90 and FOI’s rapid analysis method gave results that were somewhat low. For the report after one month a more precise, and at the same time more time-consuming, analysis had been carried out, giving FOI full marks in the laboratory exercise.

Sweden was one of two nations achieving fully correct results. But since two of the activity determinations included in the 24-hour report by the other nation were unacceptable, it is fair to say that Sweden and FOI came out on top.