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

   1. 1. Before the first medical use of the unit;

   2. 2. Before medical use under the following conditions:

      1. a. Following replacement of the source or following reinstallation of the unit in a new location outside the facility; and
      2. 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. 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. 4. At intervals not exceeding one year for low dose-rate remote afterloader units.

2. B. To satisfy the requirement of subsection (A), full calibration measurements shall include, as applicable, determination of:

   1. 1. The output within ±5 percent;
   2. 2. Source positioning accuracy to within ±1 millimeter;
   3. 3. Source retraction with backup battery upon power failure;
   4. 4. Length of the source transfer tubes;
   5. 5. Timer accuracy and linearity over the typical range of use;
   6. 6. Length of the applicators; and
   7. 7. Function of the source transfer tubes, applicators, and transfer tube-applicator interfaces.
3. C. A licensee shall use the dosimetry system described in R9-7-733(A) to measure the output.
4. D. A licensee shall make full calibration measurements required by subsection (A) in accordance with published protocols accepted by nationally recognized bodies.
5. E. In addition to the requirements for full calibrations for low dose-rate remote afterloader units in subsection (B), a licensee shall perform an autoradiograph of the sources to verify inventory and source arrangement at intervals not exceeding one quarter.
6. F. For low dose-rate remote afterloader units, a licensee may use measurements provided by the source manufacturer that are made in accordance with subsections (A) through (E).
7. G. A licensee shall mathematically correct the outputs determined in subsection (B)(1) for physical decay at intervals consistent with 1 percent physical decay.
8. H. Full calibration measurements required by subsection (A) and physical decay corrections required by subsection (G) shall be performed by an authorized medical physicist.
9. I. A licensee shall retain a record of each calibration for three years from the date it was completed.

Historical Note

New Section R9-7-735 recodified from R12-1-735 at 24 A.A.R. 813, effective March 22, 2018 (Supp. 18-1).