Dosimetry and Medical Radiation Physics
E2.10.04 Development of techniques for the dissemination of new standards for radiation measurements to the Secondary Standard Dosimetry Laboratories
Background
In 2000, the Agency published an International Code of Practice (CoP) for the dosimetry of radiotherapy beams based on the quantity of absorbed dose to water (ND,w). The CoP is widely supported by the international community, including ESTRO, WHO, the BIPM, the Primary Standards Laboratories (PSDLs), the Secondary Standards Dosimetry Laboratories (SSDLs) and the end users at the hospitals. The new approach in the new CoP is to provide users with absorbed dose to water calibration factors at the reference quality 60Co and for other clinical beam qualities (high energy photons and electron, protons and heavy ions).
It is expected that TRS-398 will gradually replace the IAEA TRS-277 and many countries will adopt it soon after the calibration services in terms of absorbed dose to water are developed and implemented at SSDLs.
At present, some SSDLs are using and in some instances even distributing absorbed dose to water calibration factors to hospitals in their countries and yet no protocol on how the SSDLs should do this, nor on how medical physicists should use those factors has been issued. In fact, serious mistakes have been detected through the Agency audit services (TLD, comparison of ionization chamber calibration coefficients) whereby SSDLs and hospitals have made confusions regarding the use of this factor, which resulted in serious errors in beam calibrations. SSDLs need detailed guidance on the implementation and development of these new standards.
Consultants, during a meeting on "development and dissemination of absorbed dose to water standards " (October, 2000), recommended that the IAEA should commission research into and the development of guidelines for SSDLs for the realization and dissemination of absorbed dose to water standards.
Objective
To assist SSDLs develop techniques for the realization and dissemination of absorbed dose to water standards needed for the implementation of the new international Code of Practice, TRS-398.
Activities
- Consultants' Meeting held in Vienna, 16-20 October 2000
- First Research Coordination Meeting held in Vienna, 5-9 November 2001
- Final Research Coordination Meeting held in Oslo, 23-27 June 2003
Reports
- Report of the Consultants' Meeting held in Vienna, 16-20 October 2000
- Report of the First Research Coordination Meeting held in Vienna, 5-9 November 2001
- Report of the Final Research Coordination Meeting held in Oslo, 23-27 June 2003
Project Officer:
Ahmed Meghzifene
Duration:
2001-2004