The response and performance of radiation detectors for accurate measurements and effective use for radiological safety in medical, industrial, and nuclear sectors are based on the optimal use, maintenance, repair and...The response and performance of radiation detectors for accurate measurements and effective use for radiological safety in medical, industrial, and nuclear sectors are based on the optimal use, maintenance, repair and calibration of radiation monitoring instruments in a secondary standard dosimetry laboratory. In Nigeria, the suboptimal performances of these instruments are attributed to inadequate maintenance practices, insufficient calibration, and limited awareness of proper equipment handling for optimal use. This study assesses the current practices related to the optimal use, maintenance, repair, and calibration of radiation detection equipment across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones. Using a cross-sectional survey approach, data were collected from Ninety (90) radiation monitoring equipment operators, Radiation Safety Officers, and frontline responders to evaluate their knowledge, awareness, and practices concerning equipment usage, operation, storage, handling, and calibration. The findings reveal significant gaps in knowledge of usage (trained is 43.2%, not trained is 56.8%) and inconsistencies in maintenance practices (as indicated by the regression analysis (β = 0.51, p < 0.01), particularly regarding specialized instruments such as the PackEye, Mobile Detection System (MDS), Radionuclide Identifinder (RID), and Personal Radiation Detectors (PRD). While there is high awareness of the need for regular calibration and handling training, the lack of standardized protocols and training alignment poses challenges to the effective use of these instruments. This study underscores the importance of comprehensive training programs, standardized maintenance protocols, and enhanced awareness initiatives to optimize the usage, performance and safety of radiation monitoring instruments in Nigeria.展开更多
Radiation detectors, such as survey meters, are essential for ensuring radiation safety in various sectors, including healthcare, industrial processing, emergency response, etc. However, regular calibration and proper...Radiation detectors, such as survey meters, are essential for ensuring radiation safety in various sectors, including healthcare, industrial processing, emergency response, etc. However, regular calibration and proper maintenance of survey meters are important in order to ascertain their accuracy and reliability. This study provides a comprehensive retrospective assessment of the calibration behaviour, durability, and fault trends of 160 survey meters, spanning ten different models. They were calibrated at the Secondary Standard Dosimetry Laboratory (SSDL) in Nigeria over a decade (2012-2023) using an X-Ray Beam Irradiator Model X80-225K and Cs-137 irradiator (OB6) with a PTW reference spherical chamber traceable to the IAEA SSDL in Seibersdorf, Austria. The calibration stability of each model was evaluated, revealing that models like Instrument A and Instrument B demonstrated high reliability with calibration factors close to the ideal value of 1, while models like Instrument C exhibited higher variability, suggesting less consistent performance for dose rate monitoring. Fault analysis showed that the most common issues were related to the battery compartment, indicating a need for improved handling practices. Correlation analysis reveals no statistically significant correlation between calibration factor and age of survey meter across the analysed models. The study concludes that regular calibration, proper handling, and user training are crucial for maintaining the accuracy and longevity of radiation detectors.展开更多
Radiation doses to patients in diagnostics and interventional radiology need to be optimized to comply with the principles of radiation protection in medical practice. This involves using specific detectors with respe...Radiation doses to patients in diagnostics and interventional radiology need to be optimized to comply with the principles of radiation protection in medical practice. This involves using specific detectors with respective diagnostic beams to carry out quality control/quality assurance tests needed to optimize patient doses in the hospital. Semiconductor detectors are used in dosimetry to verify the equipment performance and dose to patients. This work aims to assess the performance, energy dependence, and response of five commercially available semiconductor detectors in RQR, RQR-M, RQA, and RQT at Secondary Standard Dosimetry for clinical applications. The diagnostic beams were generated using Exradin A4 reference ion chamber and PTW electrometer. The ambient temperature and pressure were noted for KTP correction. The detectors designed for RQR showed good performance in RQT beams and vice versa. The detectors designed for RQR-M displayed high energy dependency in other diagnostic beams. The type of diagnostic beam quality determines the response of semiconductor detectors. Therefore, a detector should be calibrated according to the beam qualities to be measured.展开更多
Timer error as well as its convention is very important for dose accuracy during irradiation. This paper determines the timer error of irradiators at Secondary Standard Dosimetry Laboratory (SSDL) in Nigeria. The irra...Timer error as well as its convention is very important for dose accuracy during irradiation. This paper determines the timer error of irradiators at Secondary Standard Dosimetry Laboratory (SSDL) in Nigeria. The irradiators are Cs-137 OB6 irradiator and X-ray irradiators at the Protection level SSDL;and Co-60 irradiator at the Therapy Level SSDL. PTW UNIDOS electrometer and LS01 Ionization chamber were used at the Protection Level to obtain doses for both Cs-137 OB6 and X-ray irradiators while an IBA farmer type ionization chamber and an IBA DOSE 1 electrometer were used at the Protection Level SSDL. Single/multiple exposure method and graphical method were used in the determination of the timer error for the three irradiators. The timer error obtained for Cs-137 OB6 irradiator was 0.48 ± 0.01 s, the timer error for the X-ray irradiator was 0.09 ± 0.01 s while the timer error obtained for GammaBeam X200 was 1.21 ± 0.04 s. It was observed that the timer error is not affected by source to detector distance. It was also observed that the timer error of Co-60 Gamma X200 irradiator is increasing with the age of the machine. Source to detector distance and field size do not contribute towards the timer error of the irradiators. The timer error of the Co-60 Gamma X200 irradiator (the only irradiator among the irradiators with a pneumatic system) increases with the age of the irradiator.展开更多
文摘The response and performance of radiation detectors for accurate measurements and effective use for radiological safety in medical, industrial, and nuclear sectors are based on the optimal use, maintenance, repair and calibration of radiation monitoring instruments in a secondary standard dosimetry laboratory. In Nigeria, the suboptimal performances of these instruments are attributed to inadequate maintenance practices, insufficient calibration, and limited awareness of proper equipment handling for optimal use. This study assesses the current practices related to the optimal use, maintenance, repair, and calibration of radiation detection equipment across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones. Using a cross-sectional survey approach, data were collected from Ninety (90) radiation monitoring equipment operators, Radiation Safety Officers, and frontline responders to evaluate their knowledge, awareness, and practices concerning equipment usage, operation, storage, handling, and calibration. The findings reveal significant gaps in knowledge of usage (trained is 43.2%, not trained is 56.8%) and inconsistencies in maintenance practices (as indicated by the regression analysis (β = 0.51, p < 0.01), particularly regarding specialized instruments such as the PackEye, Mobile Detection System (MDS), Radionuclide Identifinder (RID), and Personal Radiation Detectors (PRD). While there is high awareness of the need for regular calibration and handling training, the lack of standardized protocols and training alignment poses challenges to the effective use of these instruments. This study underscores the importance of comprehensive training programs, standardized maintenance protocols, and enhanced awareness initiatives to optimize the usage, performance and safety of radiation monitoring instruments in Nigeria.
文摘Radiation detectors, such as survey meters, are essential for ensuring radiation safety in various sectors, including healthcare, industrial processing, emergency response, etc. However, regular calibration and proper maintenance of survey meters are important in order to ascertain their accuracy and reliability. This study provides a comprehensive retrospective assessment of the calibration behaviour, durability, and fault trends of 160 survey meters, spanning ten different models. They were calibrated at the Secondary Standard Dosimetry Laboratory (SSDL) in Nigeria over a decade (2012-2023) using an X-Ray Beam Irradiator Model X80-225K and Cs-137 irradiator (OB6) with a PTW reference spherical chamber traceable to the IAEA SSDL in Seibersdorf, Austria. The calibration stability of each model was evaluated, revealing that models like Instrument A and Instrument B demonstrated high reliability with calibration factors close to the ideal value of 1, while models like Instrument C exhibited higher variability, suggesting less consistent performance for dose rate monitoring. Fault analysis showed that the most common issues were related to the battery compartment, indicating a need for improved handling practices. Correlation analysis reveals no statistically significant correlation between calibration factor and age of survey meter across the analysed models. The study concludes that regular calibration, proper handling, and user training are crucial for maintaining the accuracy and longevity of radiation detectors.
文摘Radiation doses to patients in diagnostics and interventional radiology need to be optimized to comply with the principles of radiation protection in medical practice. This involves using specific detectors with respective diagnostic beams to carry out quality control/quality assurance tests needed to optimize patient doses in the hospital. Semiconductor detectors are used in dosimetry to verify the equipment performance and dose to patients. This work aims to assess the performance, energy dependence, and response of five commercially available semiconductor detectors in RQR, RQR-M, RQA, and RQT at Secondary Standard Dosimetry for clinical applications. The diagnostic beams were generated using Exradin A4 reference ion chamber and PTW electrometer. The ambient temperature and pressure were noted for KTP correction. The detectors designed for RQR showed good performance in RQT beams and vice versa. The detectors designed for RQR-M displayed high energy dependency in other diagnostic beams. The type of diagnostic beam quality determines the response of semiconductor detectors. Therefore, a detector should be calibrated according to the beam qualities to be measured.
文摘Timer error as well as its convention is very important for dose accuracy during irradiation. This paper determines the timer error of irradiators at Secondary Standard Dosimetry Laboratory (SSDL) in Nigeria. The irradiators are Cs-137 OB6 irradiator and X-ray irradiators at the Protection level SSDL;and Co-60 irradiator at the Therapy Level SSDL. PTW UNIDOS electrometer and LS01 Ionization chamber were used at the Protection Level to obtain doses for both Cs-137 OB6 and X-ray irradiators while an IBA farmer type ionization chamber and an IBA DOSE 1 electrometer were used at the Protection Level SSDL. Single/multiple exposure method and graphical method were used in the determination of the timer error for the three irradiators. The timer error obtained for Cs-137 OB6 irradiator was 0.48 ± 0.01 s, the timer error for the X-ray irradiator was 0.09 ± 0.01 s while the timer error obtained for GammaBeam X200 was 1.21 ± 0.04 s. It was observed that the timer error is not affected by source to detector distance. It was also observed that the timer error of Co-60 Gamma X200 irradiator is increasing with the age of the machine. Source to detector distance and field size do not contribute towards the timer error of the irradiators. The timer error of the Co-60 Gamma X200 irradiator (the only irradiator among the irradiators with a pneumatic system) increases with the age of the irradiator.
