Louisiana Administrative Code
Title 33 - ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
Part XV - Radiation Protection
Chapter 7 - Use of Radionuclides in the Healing Arts
Section XV-757 - Periodic Spot-Checks
Universal Citation: LA Admin Code XV-757
Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 9, September 20, 2024
A. Periodic Spot-Checks for Teletherapy Units
1. A
licensee authorized to use teletherapy units for medical use shall perform
output spot-checks on each teletherapy unit at intervals not to exceed one
month.
2. To satisfy the
requirement of Paragraph A.1 of this Section, spot-checks shall include
determination of:
a. timer accuracy and timer
linearity over the range of use;
b.
"on-off" error;
c. the coincidence
of the radiation field and the field indicated by the light-beam localizing
device;
d. the accuracy of all
distance-measuring and localization devices used for medical use;
e. the output for one typical set of
operating conditions; and
f. the
difference between the measurement made in Subparagraph A.2.e of this Section
and the anticipated output, expressed as a percentage of the anticipated output
(i.e., the value obtained at last full calibration corrected mathematically for
physical decay).
3. A
licensee shall use the dosimetry system described in LAC 33:XV.755 to make the
spot-check required in Subparagraph A.2.e of this Section.
4. A licensee shall perform spot-checks
required by Paragraph A.1 of this Section in accordance with procedures
established by the authorized medical physicist. The authorized medical
physicist does not need to actually perform the output spot-check
measurements.
5. A licensee shall
have the authorized medical physicist review the results of each output
spot-check within 15 days. The authorized medical physicist shall promptly
notify the licensee in writing of the results of each output spot-check. The
licensee shall keep a copy of each written notification for two
years.
6. A licensee authorized to
use a teletherapy unit for medical use shall perform safety spot-checks of each
teletherapy facility at intervals not to exceed one month.
7. To satisfy the requirement of Paragraph
A.6 of this Section, safety spot-checks shall ensure proper operation of:
a. electrical interlocks at each teletherapy
room entrance;
b. electrical or
mechanical stops installed for the purpose of limiting use of the primary beam
of radiation, restricting source housing angulation or elevation and carriage
or stand travel, and operating the beam "on-off" mechanism;
c. beam condition indicator lights on the
teletherapy unit, on the control console, and in the facility;
d. viewing systems;
e. treatment room doors from inside and
outside the treatment room; and
f.
electrically-assisted treatment room doors with the teletherapy unit electrical
power turned "off."
8. A
licensee shall lock the control console in the "off" position if any door
interlock malfunctions. No licensee shall use the unit until the interlock
system is repaired unless specifically authorized to do so in writing by the
department.
9. A licensee shall
promptly repair any system identified in Paragraph A.7 of this Section that is
not operating properly. The teletherapy unit shall not be used until all
repairs are completed.
10. A
licensee shall maintain a record of each spot-check required by Paragraphs A.1
and 6 of this Section for two years. The record shall include the date of the
spot-check; the manufacturer's name, model number, and serial number for both
the teletherapy unit and source; the manufacturer's name, model number, and
serial number of the instrument used to measure the output of the teletherapy
unit; the timer accuracy and linearity; the calculated "on-off" error; a
determination of the coincidence of the radiation field and the field indicated
by the light beam localizing device; the timer accuracy and linearity for a
typical treatment time; the calculated "on-off" error; the estimated accuracy
of each distance-measuring or localization device; the difference between the
anticipated output and the measured output; notations indicating the
operability of each entrance door electrical interlock, each electrical or
mechanical stop, each beam condition indicator light, the viewing system, and
doors; and the signature of the individual who performed the periodic
spot-check.
B. Periodic Spot-Checks for Remote Afterloader Units
1. A
licensee authorized to use a remote afterloader unit for medical use shall
perform spot-checks of each remote afterloader facility and on each unit:
a. before the first use of a high dose-rate,
medium dose-rate, or pulsed dose-rate remote afterloader unit on a given
day;
b. before each patient
treatment with a low dose-rate remote afterloader unit; and
c. after each source installation.
2. A licensee shall perform the
measurements required by Paragraph B.1 of this Section in accordance with
written procedures established by the authorized medical physicist. The
authorized medical physicist need not actually perform the spot-check
measurements.
3. A licensee shall
have the authorized medical physicist review the results of each spot-check
within 15 days. The authorized medical physicist shall notify the licensee as
soon as possible in writing of the results of each spot-check.
4. To satisfy the requirements of Paragraph
B.1 of this Section, spot-checks shall, at a minimum, ensure proper operation
of:
a. electrical interlocks at each remote
afterloader unit room entrance;
b.
source exposure indicator lights on the remote afterloader unit, on the control
console, and in the facility;
c.
viewing and intercom systems in each high dose-rate, medium dose-rate, and
pulsed dose-rate remote afterloader facility;
d. emergency response equipment;
e. radiation monitors used to indicate the
source position;
f. timer
accuracy;
g clock (date and time) in
the unit's computer; and
h. decayed
source activity in the unit's computer.
5. If the results of the checks required in
Paragraph B.4 of this Section indicate the malfunction of any system, a
licensee shall lock the control console in the "off" position and not use the
unit except as may be necessary to repair, replace, or check the malfunctioning
system.
6. A licensee shall retain
a record of each check required by Paragraph B.4 of this Section and a copy of
the procedures required by Paragraph B.2 of this Section for three years. The
records shall include:
a. the date of the
spot-check;
b. the manufacturer's
name, model number, and serial number for the remote afterloader unit and
source;
c. an assessment of timer
accuracy;
d. notations indicating
the operability of entrance door electrical interlocks, radiation monitors,
source exposure indicator lights, viewing and intercom systems, and clock and
decayed source activity in the unit's computer; and
e. the name of the individual who performed
the periodic spot-check and the signature of the authorized medical physicist
who reviewed the record of the spot-check.
7. A licensee shall retain a copy of the
procedures required by Paragraph B.6 of this Section until the licensee no
longer possesses the remote afterloader unit.
C. Periodic Spot-Checks for Gamma Stereotactic Radiosurgery Units
1. A licensee
authorized to use a gamma stereotactic radiosurgery unit for medical use shall
perform spot-checks of each gamma stereotactic radiosurgery facility and on
each unit:
a. monthly;
b. before the first use of the unit on a
given day; and
c. after each source
installation.
2. A
licensee shall:
a. perform the measurements
required by Paragraph C.1 of this Section in accordance with written procedures
established by the authorized medical physicist; and
b. have the authorized medical physicist
review the results of each spot-check within 15 days. The authorized medical
physicist shall notify the licensee as soon as possible in writing of the
results of each spot-check.
3. To satisfy the requirements of
Subparagraph C.1.a of this Section, spot-checks shall, at a minimum:
a. ensure proper operation of:
i. treatment table retraction mechanisms,
using backup battery power or hydraulic backups with the unit off;
ii. helmet microswitches;
iii. emergency timing circuits; and
iv. stereotactic frames and localizing
devices (trunnions);
b.
determine:
i. the output for one typical set
of operating conditions measured with the dosimetry system described in LAC
33:XV.755.B;
ii. the difference
between the measurement made in accordance with Clause C.3.b.i of this Section
and the anticipated output, expressed as a percentage of the anticipated output
(i.e., the value obtained at last full calibration corrected mathematically for
physical decay);
iii. the degree of
agreement between source output and computer calculation;
iv. timer accuracy and linearity over the
range of use;
v. "on-off" error;
and
vi. trunnion
centricity.
4. To satisfy the requirements of
Subparagraphs C.1.b and c of this Section, spot-checks shall ensure proper
operation of:
a. electrical interlocks at each
gamma stereotactic radiosurgery room entrance;
b. source exposure indicator lights on the
gamma stereotactic radiosurgery unit, on the control console, and in the
facility;
c. viewing and intercom
systems;
d. timer
termination;
e. radiation monitors
used to indicate room exposures; and
f. emergency "off" buttons.
5. A licensee shall arrange for
the repair of any system identified in Paragraph C.3 of this Section that is
not operating properly as soon as possible.
6. If the results of the checks required in
Paragraph C.4 of this Section indicate the malfunction of any system, a
licensee shall lock the control console in the "off" position and not use the
unit except as may be necessary to repair, replace, or check the malfunctioning
system.
7. A licensee shall retain
a record of each check required by Paragraphs C.3 and 4 of this Section for
three years. The record shall include:
a. the
date of the spot-check;
b. the
manufacturer's name, model number, and serial number for the gamma stereotactic
radiosurgery unit and the instrument used to measure the output of the
unit;
c. an assessment of timer
linearity and accuracy;
d. the
calculated "on-off" error;
e. a
determination of trunnion centricity;
f. the difference between the anticipated
output and the measured output;
g.
an assessment of source output against computer calculations;
h. notations indicating the operability of
radiation monitors, helmet microswitches, emergency timing circuits, emergency
"off" buttons, electrical interlocks, source exposure indicator lights, viewing
and intercom systems, timer termination, treatment table retraction mechanism,
and stereotactic frames and localizing devices (trunnions); and
i. the name of the individual who performed
the periodic spot-check and the signature of the authorized medical physicist
who reviewed the record of the spot-check.
8. A licensee shall retain a copy of the
procedures required by Paragraph C.2 of this Section until the licensee no
longer possesses the gamma stereotactic radiosurgery unit.
D. Additional Technical Requirements for Mobile Remote Afterloader Units
1. A licensee
providing mobile remote afterloader service shall:
a. check survey instruments before medical
use at each address of use or on each day of use, whichever is more frequent;
and
b. account for all sources
before departure from a client's address of use.
2. In addition to the periodic spot-checks
required by Subsection B of this Section, a licensee authorized to use mobile
remote afterloaders for medical use shall perform checks on each remote
afterloader unit before use at each address of use. At a minimum, checks shall
be made to verify the operation of:
a.
electrical interlocks on treatment area access points;
b. source exposure indicator lights on the
remote afterloader unit, on the control console, and in the facility;
c. viewing and intercom systems;
d. applicators, source transfer tubes, and
transfer tube-applicator interfaces;
e. radiation monitors used to indicate room
exposures;
f. source positioning
(accuracy); and
g. radiation
monitors used to indicate whether the source has returned to a safe shielded
position.
3. In addition
to the requirements of periodic spot-checks in Paragraph D.2 of this Section, a
licensee shall ensure overall proper operation of the remote afterloader unit
by conducting a simulated cycle of treatment before use at each address of
use.
4. If the results of the
checks required in Paragraph D.2 of this Section indicate the malfunction of
any system, a licensee shall lock the control console in the "off" position and
not use the unit except as may be necessary to repair, replace, or check the
malfunctioning system.
5. A
licensee shall retain a record of each check required by Paragraph D.2 of this
Section for three years. The record shall include:
a. the date of the check;
b. the manufacturer's name, model number, and
serial number of the remote afterloader unit;
c. notations accounting for all sources
before the licensee departs from a facility;
d. notations indicating the operability of
entrance door electrical interlocks, radiation monitors, source exposure
indicator lights, viewing and intercom system, applicators, source transfer
tubes, and transfer tube applicator interfaces, and source positioning
accuracy; and
e. the signature of
the individual who performed the check.
AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 30:2001 et seq.
Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Louisiana may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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