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

   1. (a) Before the first medical use of the unit;

   2. (b) 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. (c) At intervals not exceeding three months for high dose-rate, medium dose-rate, and pulsed dose-rate remote afterloader units with sources whose half-life exceeds 75 days; and
   4. (d) At intervals not exceeding one year for low dose-rate remote afterloader units.

2. (2) To satisfy the requirement of section (1) of this rule, full calibration measurements must include, as applicable, determination of:

   1. (a) The output within five percent;
   2. (b) Source positioning accuracy to within one millimeter;
   3. (c) Source retraction with backup battery upon power failure;
   4. (d) Length of the source transfer tubes;
   5. (e) Timer accuracy and linearity over the typical range of use;
   6. (f) Length of the applicators; and
   7. (g) Function of the source transfer tubes, applicators, and transfer tube-applicator interfaces.
3. (3) A licensee must use the dosimetry system described in OAR 333-116-0560(1) to measure the output.
4. (4) A licensee must make full calibration measurements required by section (1) of this rule in accordance with published protocols accepted by nationally recognized bodies.
5. (5) In addition to the requirements for full calibrations for low dose-rate remote afterloader units in section (2) of this rule, a licensee must perform an autoradiograph of the source(s) to verify inventory and source(s) arrangement at intervals not exceeding one quarter.
6. (6) For low dose-rate remote afterloader units, a licensee may use measurements provided by the source manufacturer that are made in accordance with sections (1) through (5) of this rule.
7. (7) A licensee must mathematically correct the outputs determined in subsection (2)(a) of this rule for physical decay at intervals consistent with one percent physical decay.
8. (8) Full calibration measurements required by subsection (2)(a) of this rule and physical decay corrections required by subsection (2)(g) of this rule must be performed by the authorized medical physicist.
9. (9) A licensee must retain a record of each calibration in accordance with OAR 333-100-0057.

Statutory/Other Authority

ORS 453.635

Statutes/Other Implemented

ORS 453.605 - 453.807

History

PH 51-2018, minor correction filed 02/01/2018, effective 02/01/2018
PH 14-2008, f. & cert. ef. 9-15-08
PH 4-2007, f. & cert. ef. 3-1-07
PH 12-2006, f. & cert. ef. 6-16-06
PH 36-2004, f. & cert. ef. 12-1-04
PH 31-2004(Temp), f. & cert. ef. 10-8-04 thru 4-5-05
PH 3-2003, f. & cert. ef. 3-27-03