OAR 333-116-0160: Possession, Use, Calibration and Check of Dose Calibrators

(1) A medical use licensee authorized to administer either radiopharmaceuticals or unsealed radioactive materials must possess a dose calibrator and use it to measure the amount of activity of radionuclides prior to administration to each patient or human research subject. The licensee must also develop, implement and maintain written procedures for proper calibration and operation of the dose calibrator. (2) At a minimum, a licensee must: (a) Check each dose calibrator for constancy and proper operation with a dedicated check source at the beginning of each day of use. To satisfy the requirement of this rule, the check must be done on a frequently used setting with a sealed source of not less than 1.85 megabecquerels (50 uCi) of any photon-emitting radionuclide with a half-life greater than 90 days. The results of this test must be within +ten percent of the sources stated activity. Sources used for the daily constancy test must be determined by the manufacturer to be within +five percent of the stated activity and traceable to the National Institute of Standards and Technology or other standards recognized as being equivalent by the National Institute of Standards and Technology. (b) Test each dose calibrator for accuracy upon installation and at intervals not to exceed 12 months thereafter by assaying at least two sealed sources containing different photon-emitting radionuclides 1.85 megabecquerels (50 uCi) each, at least one of which has a principal photon energy between 100 keV and 500 keV. All sources used to satisfy the accuracy test must be determined by the manufacturer to be within +five percent of the stated activity and traceable to the National Institute of Standards and Technology or other standards recognized as being equivalent by the National Institute of Standards and Technology; (c) Test each dose calibrator for linearity upon installation and at intervals not to exceed three months thereafter over the range of use between 1.1 megabecquerels (30 microcuries) and the highest dosage that will be administered; and (d) Test each dose calibrator for geometry dependence upon installation over the range of volumes and volume configurations for which it will be used. The licensee must keep a record of this test for the duration of the use of the dose calibrator. (3) A licensee must mathematically correct dosage readings for any geometry or linearity error that exceeds 10 percent if the dosage is greater than 1.1 megabecquerels (30 microcuries) and must repair or replace the dose calibrator if the accuracy or constancy error exceeds 10 percent. (4) A licensee must also perform checks and tests required by section (2) of this rule following adjustment or repair of the dose calibrator and prior to use. (5) A licensee must retain a record of each check and test required by section (2) of this rule in accordance with OAR 333-100-0057. The records required by section (2) of this rule must include: (a) For constancy, the model and serial number of the dose calibrator, the identity and calibrated activity of the radionuclide contained in the check source, the date of the check, the activity measured, the instrument settings and the initials of the individual who performed the check; (b) For accuracy, the model and serial number of the dose calibrator, the model and serial number of each source used and the identity of the radionuclide contained in the source and its activity, the date of the test, the results of the test, the instrument settings and the signature of the Radiation Safety Officer; (c) For linearity, the model and serial number of the dose calibrator, the calculated activities, the measured activities, the date of the test and the signature of the Radiation Safety Officer; and (d) For geometry dependence, the model and serial number of the dose calibrator, the configuration and calibrated activity of the source measured, the activity of the source, the activity measured and the instrument setting for each volume measured, the date of the test and the signature of the Radiation Safety Officer.