Section R12-1-726. Calibration Measurements of Brachytherapy Sources, Decay of Sources Used for Ophthalmic Treatments, and Computerized Treatment Planning Systems

A.      Before the first medical use of a brachytherapy source after the effective date of this rule, a licensee shall have:

1.        Determined the source output or activity using a dosime- try system that meets the requirements of R12-1-733(A);

2.        Determined source positioning accuracy within applica- tors; and

3.        Used published protocols currently accepted by nation- ally recognized bodies to meet the requirements of sub- sections (A)(1) and (A)(2).

B.       A licensee may use measurements provided by the source manufacturer or by a calibration laboratory accredited by the American Association of Physicists in Medicine that are made in accordance with subsection (A).

C.      A licensee shall mathematically correct the outputs or activi- ties determined in subsection (A) for physical decay at inter- vals consistent with one percent physical decay.

D.      Only an authorized medical physicist shall calculate the activ- ity of each strontium-90 source that is used to determine the treatment times for ophthalmic treatments. The decay shall be based on the activity determined under subsection (A).

E.       A licensee shall perform acceptance testing on the treatment planning system of therapy-related computer systems in accor- dance with published protocols accepted by nationally recog- nized bodies. At a minimum, the acceptance testing shall include, as applicable, verification of:

1.        The source-specific input parameters required by the dose calculation algorithm;

2.        The accuracy of dose, dwell time, and treatment time cal- culations at representative points;

3.        The accuracy of isodose plots and graphic displays; and

4.        The accuracy of the software used to determine sealed source positions from radiographic images.

F.       A licensee shall retain records of each source activity determi- nation and ophthalmic source decay correction, and documen- tation of the acceptance testing protocol required under subsection (E) for three years after the date of the procedure required in subsections (A) and (D), and for the records cre- ated in conjunction with subsection (E), the record shall be maintained for three years from the last date of the protocol’s use.

Historical Note

New Section made by final rulemaking at 13 A.A.R.

1217, effective May 5, 2007 (Supp. 07-1).