1. A. Licensees who use strontium-90 for ophthalmic treatments must ensure that certain activities as specified in subsection B of this section are performed by either:

   1. 1. An authorized medical physicist; or

   2. 2. An individual who:

      1. a. Is identified as on ophthalmic physicist on a specific medical use license issued the agency, NRC, or another agreement state; permit issued by an agency, NRC, or another agreement state broad scope licensee; medical use permit issued by a NRC master material licensee; or permit issued by a NRC master material broad scope medical use permittee;
      2. b. Holds a master's or doctor's degree in physics, medical physics, other physical sciences, engineering, or applied mathematics from an accredited college or university;
      3. c. Has successfully completed one year of full-time training in medical physics and an additional year of full-time work experience under the supervision of a medical physicist; and

      4. d. Has documented training in the following:

         1. (1) The creation, modification, and completion of written directives;
         2. (2) Procedures for administrations requiring a written directive; and
         3. (3) Performing the calibration measurements of brachytherapy sources as detailed in 12VAC5-481-2015.

2. B. The individuals who are identified in subsection A of this section must:

   1. 1. Calculate the activity of each strontium-90 sources that is used to determine the treatment times for ophthalmic treatments. The decay must be based on the activity determined under 12VAC5-481-2015; and
   2. 2. Assist the licensee in developing, implementing, and maintaining written procedures to provide a high confidence that the administration is in accordance with the written directive. These procedures must include the frequencies that the individual meeting the requirements in subsection A of this section will observe treatments, review the treatment methodology, calculate treatment time for prescribed dose, and review records to verify that the administrations were in accordance with the written directive.
3. C. Licensees must retain a record of the activity of each strontium-90 source in accordance with 12VAC5-481-2070 P.

Statutory Authority

§ 32.1-229 of the Code of Virginia.

Historical Notes

Derived from Virginia Register Volume 32, Issue 24, eff. August 25, 2016; amended, Virginia Register Volume 37, Issue 25, eff. January 14, 2022; Errata, 38:10 VA.R. 902 January 3, 2022.