RP&AD /Remote QA/ 01

PROFORMA
FOR

ACCEPTANCE / QUALITY ASSURANCE TESTS

OF REMOTE AFTERLOADING BRACHYTHERAPY UNIT

BHABHA ATOMIC RESEARCH CENTRE

Radiological Physics & Advisory Division
CT & CRS Building , Anushaktinagar
Mumbai - 400094

2001
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ACCEPTANCE / QUALITY ASSURANCE TESTS

OF REMOTE AFTERLOADING BRACHYTHERAPY UNIT

1. General Information

1.1 Name and Address of the Institution:

(Include Pin Code)

Fax: Tel.: e-mail:

1.2 Staff

(a) Radiotherapist(s)

Sr. No. Name Qualification(s) Experience

(b) Medical Physicist(s) / Radiological Safety Officer:

Sr. No. Name Qualification(s) Experience

1.3 Treatment Unit

Type : LDR / MDR / HDR / PDR

Make, Model & Number :

Maximum capacity of the Unit : MBq/GBq (mCi/Ci)

Radionuclide : 137Cs / 192Ir / 60Co

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Physical dimensions of : Length (mm): ; Dia. (mm):

source(s)

No. of sources :

Total & individual activity : µGy/h at 1m (mCi)

of sources
(as quoted by the supplier) : µGy/h at 1m (mCi)

Dummy sources provided? : Yes / No

No. of channels :

Max. no. of channels used :

Simultaneously

Method of source transfer : Pneumatic / Drive cable / Stepping Motor/ ………

between applicator & safe

Treatment mode : Fixed / Programmable/ Pulsed /……………...

Method of source retraction : Gravity/ Back-up Battery/ Pneumatic / …………

in the event of power failure

Special features (if any) :

Nurse's station provided? : Yes / No

Plan approved on (date) :

Source(s) loaded on (date) :

Source(s) loaded by :

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2. QA Tests : Mechanical

2.1 Functioning of sensors like : Satisfactory / No

pressure, torque, optical

2.2 Coupling between guide- : Satisfactory / No

tube and unit

2.3 Coupling between guide- : Satisfactory / No

tube and applicator

2.4 Coupling between drive : Satisfactory / No

cable and source

2.5 Time taken to drive the source to : --------- sec

"ON" position

2.6 Time taken to withdraw the source to : --------- sec

"OFF" position

2.7 Source guide free of kinks? : Yes/No

2.8 Mechanical integrity of applicators & : Acceptable / Not acceptable

position of shield, if any

3. QA Tests : Electrical

3.1 Interlocks

3.1.1 Treatment Room Door(s)

Provided? : Yes / No
Working? : Yes / No
3.1.2 Guide Tube & Treatment Unit
Provided? : Yes / No
Working? : Yes / No
3.1.3 Applicator & Guide Tube
Provided? : Yes / No
Working? : Yes / No
3.1.4 Emergency stop button to interrupt the irradiation
Provided? : Yes / No
Working? : Yes / No

3.2 Source Safe Display

3.2.1 Treatment "OFF" indicator

Provided? : Yes / No
Working? : Yes / No
3.2.2 Treatment "ON" indicator
Provided? : Yes / No
Working? : Yes / No

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3.3 Control Console Display

3.3.1 Treatment "OFF" indicator

Provided? : Yes / No
Working? : Yes / No
3.3.2 Treatment "ON" indicator
Provided? : Yes / No
Working? : Yes / No
3.3.3 Source ON/OFF indicator
Provided? : Yes / No
Working? : Yes / No
3.3.4 Door interlock indicator
Provided? : Yes / No
Working? : Yes / No
3.3.5 Retrieval of the source indicator
Provided? : Yes / No
Working? : Yes / No
3.3.6 Retrieval of the dummy indicator
Provided? : Yes / No
Working? : Yes / No

3.4 Control Console Function

3.4.1 Power switch

Provided? : Yes / No
Working? : Yes / No
3.4.2 Parameter reset switch
Provided? : Yes / No
Working? : Yes / No
3.4.3 Treatment `ON’ switch
Provided? : Yes / No
Working? : Yes / No
3.4.4 Treatment `OFF’ switch
Provided? : Yes / No
Working? : Yes / No
3.4.5 Emergency `OFF’ switch
Provided? : Yes / No
Working? : Yes / No
3.4.6 Treatment and elapsed time display counters
Provided? : Yes / No
Working? : Yes / No
3.4.7 Multi-channel indexer function and sequence displays
Provided? : Yes / No
Working? : Yes / No
3.4.8 Back-up system(s)
Provided? : Yes / No
Working? : Yes / No

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4. QA Tests : Radiation (attach relevant data for evaluation)

4.1 Leakage and Contamination ( Limit: 200 Bq)

(Using a wet swipe measure the maximum removable activity on the surface of the source /
source holder)

4.1.1 Removable activity on Source / Source holder : Bq

4.1.2 Contamination check done on (date) :

4.2 Positioning Accuracy and Uniformity (Tolerance: ± 1 mm)

(use autoradiograph / radiograph wherever required)

4.2.1 Coincidence between dummy : ------------- mm

and active source positions

4.2.2 Accuracy of source position within the : -------------- mm

applicator

4.2.3 Reproducibility of dummy source position : -------------- mm

4.3 Temporal Accuracy (Tolerance: ± 1 %)

4.3.1 Timer error : --------------

4.3.2 Timer linearity : ---------------

4.3.3 End error : --------------- sec ('or' %)

4.4 Source Strength Verification

4.4.1 Quoted source strength (as on ……………) : ----------- µGy. h-1 at 1m ( GBq / Ci )

4.4.2 Measured source strength (as on …………) : ---------- µGy. h-1 at 1m ( GBq / Ci )

4.4.3 Deviation between specified : ----------- %

and measured source strength
(Tolerance: ± 3%)

4.4.4 Deviation between measured : ------------- %

mean and individual source strength
(Tolerance: ± 5%)

In a separate sheet explain the procedure and the instrument(s) used. In case of multiple
sources, give the average source strength and the variation among individual sources.

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5. QA Tests: Treatment Planning System

5.1 Digitizer and Localization Software: (Tolerance: 3% or 1mm)

5.1.1 Accuracy of digitization of :

Point co-ordinates

5.1.2 Accuracy of data transfer from :

orthogonal radiographs

5.2 Calculation Algorithm:

5.2.1 Source specification required for TPS : mCi / mg.Ra.Eq./ MBq / Ref. Air. Kerma Rate

5.2.2 Initial activity quoted by the supplier :

Current activity (with date) :

5.2.3 Factor used to convert quoted

source strength for TPS input :

5.2.4 Agreement of source decay correction :

5.2.5 Agreement between TPS and :

published/manual calculation for single
source, at relevant points

5.2.6 Agreement for multiple source loading :

(Specify the procedure and the result)
(Tolerance: 3% or 1 mm)

6. QA Tests: Radiation Safety

6.1 Gamma Zone Monitor:

Provided? : Yes / No
Working? : Yes / No

6.2 CCTV Provided? : Yes / No

Working? : Yes / No

6.3 Unit Leakage

Measure the dose rate on top, bottom and four sides of the container at 5 cm from the surface and one meter
from the centre of source storage for source 'OFF’ condition:
1 2 3 4 5 6
-1
Measured dose rate (µGy.h ) at 5cm :
from the surface of the source storage
(Tolerance: ≤ 100 µGy.h-1)
Measured dose rate (µGy.h-1) at 1 m :
from the centre of the source storage
(Tolerance: ≤ 10 µGy.h-1)

Note: The above tolerance limits are applicable when the unit is loaded with the maximum capacity.

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6.4. Survey of the Installation:

In the Figure below, mark the occupancy on all sides, above and below the installation and
measure the maximum dose rates at these locations, with the applicator loaded with maximum source
activity and kept at the centre of the treatment table.

Minimum locations recommended for radiation protection survey of the installation are:
A , A’, B, B’ – Just outside the four walls of the installation at the level of source 'S'
C – Roof of the installation, at the level of source 'S'
D – Just outside entrance door
E &F – At the level of air conditioners
G - Entrance to control panel
(S : Source position ; CP : Control Panel )

F E

A.C. A’ A.C.

F
l R
o o
o o
r f
B C
B’ L L
S e e
v v
e e
l l

D
C.P A Section
Across AA’

Fig. 1- Typical Layout of a Remote Afterloading Brachytherapy Facility

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6.4.1 Source Activity (GBq/Ci) during survey :

6.4.2 Instrument(s) used for survey :

6.4.3 Measured dose rate (µGyh-1) at positions marked in Fig. 1:

A A’ B B’ C D E F G

Note: The quoted dose rate should be the maximum measured in the specified direction.

7. Instruments Used for Measurement

Sr.No. Type Make &Model Cal. Factor Date of Calibrated at

(& Ambient Calibration
conditions)

Checked by Measured by

Signature : Signature :

Name : Name :

Designation : Designation :

Date : Date : : Instrument(s)

used for survey :