Code of Massachusetts Regulations
105 CMR - DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH
Title 105 CMR 120.000 - The Control of Radiation
PHOTON EMITTING REMOTE AFTERLOADER UNITS, TELETHERAPY UNITS, AND GAMMA STEREOTACTIC RADIOSURGERY UNITS
Section 120.577 - Full Calibration Measurements on Remote Afterloader Units

Universal Citation: 105 CMR 120.000 MA Code of Regs 120.577

Current through Register 1531, September 27, 2024

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

(1) Before the first medical use of the unit; and

(2) Before medical use under the following conditions:
(a) Following replacement of the source or following reinstallation of the unit in a new location outside the facility; and

(b) 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

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

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

(B) To satisfy the requirement of 105 CMR 120.577(A), full calibration measurements shall include, as applicable, determination of:

(1) the output within +/- 5%;

(2) Source position accuracy to within +/- 1 millimeter;

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

(4) Length of the source transfer tubes;

(5) Timer accuracy and linearity over the typical range of use;

(6) Length of applicators; and

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

(C) In addition to the requirements for full calibrations for low dose-rate remote afterloader units in 105 CMR 120.577(B), a licensee shall perform an autoradiograph of the source(s) to verify inventory and source(s) arrangement at intervals not exceeding one quarter.

(D) A licensee shall use the dosimetry system described in 105 CMR 120.575(A) to measure the output.

(E) A licensee shall make full calibration measurements required by 105 CMR 120.577(A) in accordance with published protocols accepted by nationally recognized bodies.

(F) For low dose-rate remote afterloader units, a licensee may use measurements provided by the source manufacturer that are made in accordance with 105 CMR 120.577(A) through (E).

(G) A licensee shall mathematically correct the outputs determined in 105 CMR 120.577(B)(1) for physical decay at intervals consistent with 1% physical decay.

(H) Full calibration measurements required by 105 CMR 120.577(A) and physical decay corrections required by 105 CMR 120.577(G) must be performed by the authorized medical physicist.

(I) A licensee shall retain a record of each calibration in accordance with 105 CMR 120.592(F).

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