Utah Code R313-35-110 - Veterinary X-Ray Systems

(1) Equipment. X-ray systems shall meet the following standards to be used for veterinary radiographic examinations.

(a) The leakage radiation from the diagnostic source assembly measured at a distance of one meter may not exceed 25.8 uC/kg, 100 milliroentgens, in one hour if the x-ray tube is operated at its leakage technique factors.

(b) Diaphragms, cones, or a stepless adjustable collimator shall be provided for collimating the useful beam to the area of clinical interest and shall provide the degree of protection as is required of the diagnostic source housing.

(c) A device shall be provided to terminate the exposure after a preset time or exposure.

(d) A "dead-man" type exposure switch shall be provided, together with an electrical cord of sufficient length, so that the operator may stand out of the useful beam and at least six feet from the animal during x-ray exposures.

(e) For stationary or mobile x-ray systems, a method shall be provided for visually defining the perimeter of the x-ray field. The total misalignment of the edges of the visually defined field with the respective edges of the x-ray field along either the length or width of the visually defined field may not exceed 6% of the distance from the source to the center of the visually defined field if the surface that it appears on is perpendicular to the axis of the x-ray beam.

(f) For portable x-ray systems, a method shall be provided to align the center of the x-ray field with respect to the center of the image receptor to within 6% of the source to image receptor distance, and to show the source to image receptor distance to within 6%.

(g) X-ray equipment designed for human radiographic examinations that is being used for veterinary radiographic examinations shall be FDA approved for use in the United States and shall be certified in accordance with 21 CFR 1010.2 and identified in accordance with 21 CFR 1010.3.

(h) If directed by the director an x-ray machine that does not meet the requirements of Section R313-35-110 may not be operated for diagnostic purposes.

(2) Structural shielding. For stationary x-ray systems, the wall, ceiling, and floor areas shall provide enough shielding to meet the requirements of Section R313-15-301.

(a) Registrants using computed tomography or fluoroscopic imaging assemblies shall comply with Section R313-28-32.

(3) Operating procedures. The registrant shall be responsible for directing the operation of the x-ray machines that are under the registrant's administrative control. The registrant or registrant's agent shall assure that the requirements of Subsections R313-35-110(3)(a) through R313-35-110(3)(g) are met in the operation of the x-ray machines.

(a) If feasible, the operator shall stand well away from the useful beam and the animal during radiographic exposures.

(b) In applications where the operator is not located beyond a protective barrier, clothing consisting of a protective apron having a lead equivalent of not less than 0.5 millimeters shall be worn by the operator and other individuals in the room during exposures.

(c) An individual other than the operator may not be in the x-ray room while exposures are being made unless the individual's assistance is required.

(d) If the animal must be held by an individual, that individual shall be protected with appropriate shielding devices, for example, protective gloves and apron. The individual shall be so positioned that no unshielded part of that individual's body will be struck by the useful beam.

(e) Individuals who will be operating the x-ray equipment shall be instructed in the registrant's written radiation safety program and be qualified in the safe use of the equipment.

(f) Facilities shall have protective aprons and gloves available in sufficient numbers to provide protection to personnel who are involved with x-ray operations and who are otherwise not shielded.

(g) Personnel monitoring. Individuals who are associated with the operation of an x-ray system are subject to the applicable requirements of Rule R313-15.

(4) Maintenance of records and information. The registrant shall maintain at least the information listed in Subsections R313-35-110(4)(a) and R313-35-110(4)(b) for each x-ray machine:

(a) serial numbers; and

(b) records of surveys or calculations to demonstrate compliance with Section R313-15-302, calibration, maintenance, and modifications performed on the x-ray machine.

(5) Hand-held x-ray systems. X-ray equipment designed to be hand-held shall comply with Section R313-35-110, excluding Subsection R313-35-110(5) and Section R313-28-52.

(a) In addition to the dose limits in Section R313-15-301, operators of hand-held x-ray equipment shall ensure that members of the public that may be exposed to scatter radiation or primary beam transmission from the hand-held device are not exposed above two milliroentgen per hour.

(b) Operators will ensure that members of the public likely to be exposed to greater than two milliroentgen per hour will be provided protective aprons of at least 0.5 millimeter lead equivalence or are moved to a distance where the exposure rate to the individual is below two milliroentgen per hour.

Notes

Utah Code R313-35-110

Amended by Utah State Bulletin Number 2025-08, effective 4/14/2025