Types of Reference Sources in Nuclear Medicine :Types of Reference Sources in Nuclear Medicine Ben Weisman 11/1/06 NMT2534


Objectives :Objectives To compare & contrast various types of reference sources Which specific QC tests apply to the particular reference source


Reference Sources :Reference Sources The daily calibration of dose calibrators and gamma cameras is recommended to ensure accurate and reproducible instrument response Calibration is easily achieved and maintained by the use of long-lived reference sources - Cs-137 vial E - Co-57 sheet source - Ba-133 - etc. Reference sources are registered with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Center for Devices and Radiological Health and the NRC


RS Requirements :RS Requirements Each source includes a certificate of calibration, a leak test certificate, and a radiation safety and handling sheet The source is normally packaged in an individual lead shield that is color coded and vinyl covered to eliminate exposure to the lead


Flood Sources :Flood Sources Co-57 sheet sources: used for daily flood field uniformity Bar-phantom: used for weekly spatial resolution control test Co-57 flood sources are usually shipped with a certificate of calibration


Reference Sources Cont’d. :Reference Sources Cont’d. Gd-153: Reference source – line source used for attenuation correction to improve SPECT camera images Co-57: Line source to determine the center of rotation for gamma cameras Cs-137, Co-57, Co-60, Ba-133: check stability of dose calibrators (all sources are supplied in a covered, lead shield and are accompanied by a certificate of calibration and leak test report )


Reference Solutions :Reference Solutions Supplied in standard P6 vials for accurate, traceable calibration of radionuclide calibrators Each source is supplied with a certificate of measurement stating activity, reference date, measurement uncertainty, gamma-ray emitting impurities, & traceability In-111, I-131, Ga-67, Tc-99m, I-123, Tl-201


Calibrated Sodium Iodide Capsules :Calibrated Sodium Iodide Capsules Helps measure and match geometry of I-131 therapy capsules for accurate calibration


Check Source for Gamma Camera :Check Source for Gamma Camera These sources are used for either energy calibration of gamma counters or for detector efficiency calibration Supplied with certificate Ba-133/Cs-137, Co-57, Co-60, I-129, I-125 Multifinger checking sources – used for convenient and rapid testing of multi-well gamma counters


Conclusion :Conclusion This discussion has entailed the various types of reference sources A wide variety of long lived reference sources are used for an array of various QC tests


Quiz :Quiz How often is the reproducibility test taken for dose calibrators? What are some of the requirements of a sealed source when it is sent off? What are two radionuclides used as line sources? Which type of reference source is used for spatial resolution? How often? What are reference sources usually packaged in?


Answers :Answers Daily a certificate of calibration, a leak test certificate (report), and a radiation safety and handling sheet Gd-153, Co-57 Co-57; weekly bar phantom Lead shield (vinyl covered)


References :References http://www.aeat-qsa.com/assets/images/QANucMed.pdf#search='reference%20sources%20certificate%20nuclear‘ NMT handouts/Power Points http://www.nomos.com/page?id=1475