Pitfalls in Use of a Scintillation Detector
| Type of use | Pitfall |
| Routine | Geometry of measurement not according to protocol |
| Calibration performed incorrectly | |
| Incorrect energy window chosen | |
| Extraneous radiation source present (patient, contamination, etc.) | |
| Background not subtracted | |
| Source activity too high; measurement incurs dead time | |
| Efficiency factor not applied when needed | |
| Incorrect detector chosen (well counter vs. thyroid probe) | |
| QC | Daily calibration not performed or performed incorrectly |
| Geometry of constancy measurement not according to protocol | |
| χ2 test affected by extraneous sources of radiation | |
| Efficiency factor out of date or not determined according to protocol | |
| Current source activity not calculated correctly for efficiency factor determination | |
| Energy window incorrect for given QC test |