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Abstract

In low-level gamma spectrometry, one of the main goals is the improvement of detection sensitivity. However, ensuring the accuracy and compatibility of the measurement results in different laboratories is also very important. This has been particularly highlighted within the GERDA collaboration, which incorporates several low-level material screening laboratories. For this reason a comparison of gamma-spectrometers situated at MPIK Heidelberg, IRMM Geel, LNGS Assergi and JINR Dubna was performed. This comparison was based on the National Physical Laboratory's "Environmental Radioactivity Comparison 2005" exercise, in which MPIK Heidelberg and IRMM Geel participated. The exercise allowed comparing the accuracy of the measurements and the different evaluation techniques between many low-level laboratories, using the same standard mixture of low-radioactivity nuclides. The results of the internal comparison are presented and discussed, as well as the implementation of the Monte-Carlo simulations in the evaluation of our measurements.