Thermo Scientific invented its industry leading and well-renown Natural Background Reduction (NBR) technology to address the complex scenarios facing control point applications.  This latest version of NBR reflects the use of better detector materials, improved electronics and enhanced algorithms.

The NBR technology enhances throughput of the system by allowing NORM induced activity such as those commonly found in building materials and household goods to pass through without compromising the systems ability to catch materials of concern.  Equally important, it does so without added complexity and cost which might burden the system.  When compared to more sophisticated and costly spectral-based systems, the NBR technology accomplishes the necessary task in real time with minimum cost and expertise required to support operations.

When sorting out a real source from naturally induced interferences, the NBR technology leads to less confusion within the system . Its true benefit is the lower alarm threshold achievable while simultaneously not jeopardizing the false positives.  Simply put, NBR results in enhanced sensitivity and fewer innocent alarms.  This translates into greater throughput with fewer interruptions and costly delays.

Thermo Scientific’s NBR technology is a very successful counting technique that has proven itself in many parts of the world where enhanced sensitivity, lowered innocent alarms and ability to ignore background fluctuations due to natural occurring  circumstances are vitally important.

The graph below depicts two simultaneous signals, both from an identical gamma-sensitive detector.  The upper (blue) line represents the normal "gross" count channel as produced from a normal system using standard counting technologies.  The lower (red) signal is generated by the NBR technology driven channel which ignores natural background influences. 

As can clearly be seen, the upper gross counting channel is easily fooled by the high count rates exhibited by common rock material.  The lower  NBR channel on the other hand remains undisturbed by these naturally occurring disturbances while still clearly and more sharply detecting “artificial” or man-made radioactive materials sources intended to induce an alarm