Section 64E-5.6411 - Full Calibration Measurements on Remote Afterloader Units(1) A licensee authorized to use a remote afterloader unit for medical use shall perform full calibration measurements on each remote afterloader unit:(a) Before the first medical use of the unit;(b)1. Before medical use following replacement of the source or following reinstallation of the unit in a new location outside the facility; and,2. Before medical use 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,(c) At intervals not exceeding 1 quarter for high dose-rate, medium dose-rate, and pulsed dose-rate remote afterloader units with sources whose half-life exceeds 75 days; and,(d) At intervals not exceeding 1 year for low dose-rate remote afterloader units.(2) Full calibration measurements of remote afterloader unit shall include the determination of:(a) The output within 5 percent;(b) Source positioning accuracy to within 1 millimeter;(c) Source retraction with backup battery upon power failure;(d) Timer constancy and linearity over the range of use;(e) Length of the source transfer tubes;(f) Length of the applicators; and,(g) Function of the source transfer tubes, applicators, and transfer tube-applicator interfaces.(3) A licensee shall use the dosimetry system described in Rule 64E-5.640, F.A.C., to measure the output for one set of exposure conditions. The remaining radiation measurements required in paragraph 64E-5.6411(2)(a), F.A.C., may be made using a dosimetry system that indicates relative dose rates.(4) A licensee shall make full calibration measurements required by subsection 64E-5.6411(1), F.A.C., in accordance with published protocols accepted by nationally recognized bodies.(5) A licensee shall correct mathematically the outputs determined in paragraph 64E-5.6411(2)(a), F.A.C., for physical decay at intervals consistent with 1 percent physical decay.(6) Full calibration measurements required by subsection 64E-5.6411(1), F.A.C., and physical decay corrections required by subsection 64E-5.6411(5), F.A.C., shall be performed by the authorized medical physicist.(7) In addition to the requirements for full calibrations for low dose-rate remote afterloader units in subsection 64E-5.6411(2), F.A.C., a licensee shall perform an autoradiograph of the source(s) to verify inventory and source(s) arrangement at intervals not exceeding 1 quarter.(8) For low dose-rate remote afterloader units, a licensee may use measurements provided by the source manufacturer that are made in accordance with subsections 64E-5.6411(1) -(5), F.A.C.(9) A licensee shall maintain a record of each remote afterloader unit calibration for three years. The record shall include the following: (a) The date of the calibration;(b) The manufacturer's name, model number, and serial number for both the remote afterloader unit and the source;(c) The model numbers and serial numbers of the instruments used to calibrate the remote afterloader unit;(d) The results and an assessment of the full calibrations.(e) The results of the autoradiograph required for low dose-rate remote afterloaders; and,(f) The signature of the authorized medical physicist.Fla. Admin. Code Ann. R. 64E-5.6411
Rulemaking Authority 404.022, 404.051, 404.061, 404.071, 404.081, 404.141 FS. Law Implemented 404.022, 404.051(1), (4), (5), (6), (8), (9), (10), (11), 404.061(2), (3), 404.071(1), 404.081, 404.141 FS.