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.