How is wipe test data used to determine area releasability after contamination?

• A. It informs the staffing schedule for the next shift.
• B. If activity is below regulatory clearance, area can be released; above limits triggers remediation.
• C. It determines whether the area will be demolished.
• D. It is used to calibrate survey meters for future operations.

Answer: (B)

Wipe test data measure how much removable radioactive contamination is present on surfaces after cleanup. A wipe sample is taken from representative areas, analyzed to determine the activity, and this removable contamination is then compared to the regulatory release limit for the area. If the measured activity is below that limit, the area can be released for unrestricted use; if it’s above, further decontamination is required and the area is re-tested. The emphasis is on removable contamination—the portion that could be transferred by touch or cleaning—so only when this removable activity meets clearance criteria can the area be released. This approach isn’t about staffing, demolishing the area, or calibrating survey meters, which is why it specifically supports deciding area releasability.