Louisiana Administrative Code › Title 33 - ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY › Part XV - Radiation Protection › Chapter 7 - Use of Radionuclides in the Healing Arts › Section XV-757 - Periodic Spot-Checks

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 6, June 20, 2024
A. Periodic
				Spot-Checks for Teletherapy Units
1. A
				licensee authorized to use teletherapy units for medical use shall perform
				output spot-checks on each teletherapy unit at intervals not to exceed one
				month.
2. To satisfy the
				requirement of Paragraph A.1 of this Section, spot-checks shall include
				determination of:
a. timer accuracy and timer
				linearity over the range of use;
b.
				"on-off" error;
c. the coincidence
				of the radiation field and the field indicated by the light-beam localizing
				device;
d. the accuracy of all
				distance-measuring and localization devices used for medical use;
e. the output for one typical set of
				operating conditions; and
f. the
				difference between the measurement made in Subparagraph A.2.e of this Section
				and the anticipated output, expressed as a percentage of the anticipated output
				(i.e., the value obtained at last full calibration corrected mathematically for
				physical decay).
3. A
				licensee shall use the dosimetry system described in LAC 33:XV.755 to make the
				spot-check required in Subparagraph A.2.e of this Section.
4. A licensee shall perform spot-checks
				required by Paragraph A.1 of this Section in accordance with procedures
				established by the authorized medical physicist. The authorized medical
				physicist does not need to actually perform the output spot-check
				measurements.
5. A licensee shall
				have the authorized medical physicist review the results of each output
				spot-check within 15 days. The authorized medical physicist shall promptly
				notify the licensee in writing of the results of each output spot-check. The
				licensee shall keep a copy of each written notification for two
				years.
6. A licensee authorized to
				use a teletherapy unit for medical use shall perform safety spot-checks of each
				teletherapy facility at intervals not to exceed one month.
7. To satisfy the requirement of Paragraph
				A.6 of this Section, safety spot-checks shall ensure proper operation of:
a. electrical interlocks at each teletherapy
				room entrance;
b. electrical or
				mechanical stops installed for the purpose of limiting use of the primary beam
				of radiation, restricting source housing angulation or elevation and carriage
				or stand travel, and operating the beam "on-off" mechanism;
c. beam condition indicator lights on the
				teletherapy unit, on the control console, and in the facility;
d. viewing systems;
e. treatment room doors from inside and
				outside the treatment room; and
f.
				electrically-assisted treatment room doors with the teletherapy unit electrical
				power turned "off."
8. A
				licensee shall lock the control console in the "off" position if any door
				interlock malfunctions. No licensee shall use the unit until the interlock
				system is repaired unless specifically authorized to do so in writing by the
				department.
9. A licensee shall
				promptly repair any system identified in Paragraph A.7 of this Section that is
				not operating properly. The teletherapy unit shall not be used until all
				repairs are completed.
10. A
				licensee shall maintain a record of each spot-check required by Paragraphs A.1
				and 6 of this Section for two years. The record shall include the date of the
				spot-check; the manufacturer's name, model number, and serial number for both
				the teletherapy unit and source; the manufacturer's name, model number, and
				serial number of the instrument used to measure the output of the teletherapy
				unit; the timer accuracy and linearity; the calculated "on-off" error; a
				determination of the coincidence of the radiation field and the field indicated
				by the light beam localizing device; the timer accuracy and linearity for a
				typical treatment time; the calculated "on-off" error; the estimated accuracy
				of each distance-measuring or localization device; the difference between the
				anticipated output and the measured output; notations indicating the
				operability of each entrance door electrical interlock, each electrical or
				mechanical stop, each beam condition indicator light, the viewing system, and
				doors; and the signature of the individual who performed the periodic
				spot-check.