Quenching correction

{
  "id": "MLC-T-CHM-009782",
  "term": "Quenching correction",
  "field": "Chemistry",
  "definition": "A mathematical adjustment applied to data from liquid scintillation counting to compensate for reduced detection efficiency. Quenching, caused by chemical impurities or color in the sample, interferes with the transfer of energy and the production of light photons, leading to an underestimation of the sample's true radioactivity. The correction is determined by measuring a quench-indicating parameter, such as the spectral index of the external standard (SIE), and using a pre-established correlation curve to find the correct counting efficiency.",
  "subject": "Analytical Chemistry",
  "see_also": [
    "liquid scintillation detector",
    "quenching"
  ],
  "references": [
    "PAC, 1994, 66, 2513. 'Nomenclature for radioanalytical chemistry (IUPAC Recommendations 1994)' on page 2523 (https://doi.org/10.1351/pac199466122513)"
  ],
  "url": "https://mlchart.com/terminology/chemistry/quenching-correction/"
}