Fla. Admin. Code Ann. R. 64E-5.6411 - Full Calibration Measurements on Remote Afterloader Units

(1) A licensee authorized to use a remote afterloader unit for medical use shall perform full calibration measurements on each remote afterloader unit:

(a) Before the first medical use of the unit;

(b)

1. Before medical use following replacement of the source or following reinstallation of the unit in a new location outside the facility; and,

2. Before medical use following any repair of the unit that includes removal of the source or major repair of the components associated with the source exposure assembly; and,

(c) At intervals not exceeding 1 quarter for high dose-rate, medium dose-rate, and pulsed dose-rate remote afterloader units with sources whose half-life exceeds 75 days; and,

(d) At intervals not exceeding 1 year for low dose-rate remote afterloader units.

(2) Full calibration measurements of remote afterloader unit shall include the determination of:

(a) The output within 5 percent;

(b) Source positioning accuracy to within 1 millimeter;

(c) Source retraction with backup battery upon power failure;

(d) Timer constancy and linearity over the range of use;

(e) Length of the source transfer tubes;

(f) Length of the applicators; and,

(g) Function of the source transfer tubes, applicators, and transfer tube-applicator interfaces.

(3) A licensee shall use the dosimetry system described in Rule 64E-5.640, F.A.C., to measure the output for one set of exposure conditions. The remaining radiation measurements required in paragraph 64E-5.6411(2)(a), F.A.C., may be made using a dosimetry system that indicates relative dose rates.

(4) A licensee shall make full calibration measurements required by subsection 64E-5.6411(1), F.A.C., in accordance with published protocols accepted by nationally recognized bodies.

(5) A licensee shall correct mathematically the outputs determined in paragraph 64E-5.6411(2)(a), F.A.C., for physical decay at intervals consistent with 1 percent physical decay.

(6) Full calibration measurements required by subsection 64E-5.6411(1), F.A.C., and physical decay corrections required by subsection 64E-5.6411(5), F.A.C., shall be performed by the authorized medical physicist.

(7) In addition to the requirements for full calibrations for low dose-rate remote afterloader units in subsection 64E-5.6411(2), F.A.C., a licensee shall perform an autoradiograph of the source(s) to verify inventory and source(s) arrangement at intervals not exceeding 1 quarter.

(8) For low dose-rate remote afterloader units, a licensee may use measurements provided by the source manufacturer that are made in accordance with subsections 64E-5.6411(1) -(5), F.A.C.

(9) A licensee shall maintain a record of each remote afterloader unit calibration for three years. The record shall include the following:

(a) The date of the calibration;

(b) The manufacturer's name, model number, and serial number for both the remote afterloader unit and the source;

(c) The model numbers and serial numbers of the instruments used to calibrate the remote afterloader unit;

(d) The results and an assessment of the full calibrations.

(e) The results of the autoradiograph required for low dose-rate remote afterloaders; and,

(f) The signature of the authorized medical physicist.

Notes

Fla. Admin. Code Ann. R. 64E-5.6411

Rulemaking Authority 404.022, 404.051, 404.061, 404.071, 404.081, 404.141 FS. Law Implemented 404.022, 404.051(1), (4), (5), (6), (8), (9), (10), (11), 404.061(2), (3), 404.071(1), 404.081, 404.141 FS.

New 2-11-10.

New 2-11-10.