For Users of X-ray Radiation Source Blood Irradiator Equipment

[R Woodruff]

Given the issues with X-ray sources (tubes) used in the commercial currently available X-ray source Blood irradiation equipment, the following may be of interest.

As you probably know, the indicators (Rad Tag® or Rad Sure®) attached to each blood bag before irradiation only provide qualitative, not quantitative information. That is, they simply indicate whether or not the bag has received radiation and not the total absorbed radiation dose. Rad Tag may be considered semi-quantitive but it does not provide the quantity of the total absorbed radiation dose received by the blood which has been irradiated. A way to have assurance that irradiated blood has received the required total absorbed dose of radiation is through dosimetry.

If this is not already being done on a routine basis, I suggest dosimetry mapping using a phantom and dosimeters be provided for the blood bag container (canister). Initially this should be done on a monthly basis.

After several months with fairly constant dosimetry data month to month, the dosimetry measurements can be taken every 2 months and then every 3 months. The radiation dosimetry data is taken from a number of locations within the canister and provides data for what is called a "dosimeter map" of the radiation received within the volume of the canister. This radiation data also provides a means of monitoring the radiation output of the X-ray sources (tubes) and will indicate a drop in X-ray source (X-ray tubes and high voltage power supplies). With fairly constant output radiation data, the recommended interval for making this measurement is every 3 months or quarterly.

[dabmor]

Hello R Woodruff,

Can you please tell me the reference for the above information on the recommendations for the monthly dosimetry checks on a new X-ray Irradiator - is this a manufacturer recommendation? I appreciate any help you can give. Please email at dabmor@aol.com. thanks! D Moreau