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positions, etc.) been independently reviewed, e.g., will the planned use
of the device yield the desired dose and dose distribution? Have the
treatment parameters keyed by an operator into the microprocessor
controlling the unit been reviewed by a second individual? Are all pretreatment forms completed and signed prior to treatment? Do pretreatment autoradiographs, if any, confirm the proposed treatment is
correctly entered into the console?
Standard methods of treating specific anatomic sites should be adopted
so that standard key entry procedures are followed. Misadministrations
most likely will occur when a treatment plan requires use of nonstandard parameters and someone keys in the “usual” standard
parameters. We encourage users of remote afterloading units to share,
in their user groups, written materials which have been prepared for
the use of specific units.
Equipment quality assurance and equipment use quality assurance are
both dynamic processes; procedures, once established, should be
reviewed at least annually to determine if the entire QA program is
effective and efficient, and if not, changes should be made to improve
the program. The QA program must be well documented for license
compliance.
VIII. SOURCE CALIBRATIONS
A.
Source Certificates
Purchased radioactive sources are provided with a certificate that
describes the source and its activity, apparent activity, or other quantity
related to activity, e.g., equivalent mass of radium with a specific wall
filtration. Preferably, the certificate should state the exposure rate or
reference air-kerma rate, in µGy/h, in free space at a given distance in
a specified geometry, or the air kerma strength, in µGy•m 2/h.
Whatever concept or term used to describe the source, the user needs
to confirm the stated certificate value to within its stated uncertainty.
Often, the uncertainty in the absolute accuracy of source certificate’s
activity will be between ±5% to ±10%.
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