Another Film Dosimeter Rumor & ANSI N13.11

["Sandy Perle" <sandyfl@earthlink.net>]

There is another rumor out in the field, especially in the medical 
institutions, stating that the new ANSI N13.11 Standard, that is 
currently in the review process, will be changed whereby film 
dosimeters will not be permitted to be used for dose of record 
monitoring. The essence is, the standard with the new test categories 
will be such that the film dosimeter will not be capable of passing 
the Standard. This insinuation is totally false. 

(1) The revision currently being reviewed does in fact add new test 
categories. However, no specific dosimeter must be tested in all ANSI 
N13.11 categories, simply because they are in the Standard. The 
dosimeter need only be tested in the categroies for which the 
processor requests to be accredited for. 

(2) In a hospital, the types of radiation that must be monitored for 
include most likely, x-ray and in nuclear medicine and therapy, 
potentially gamma, beta (high and low energy) and possible mixtures 
of gamma, beta and various x-ray energies. Again, if a facility needs 
to monitor for these radiations, then the dosimeter must be tested. 
The film badges today meet all of these NIST Beam Code tests. In the 
future, if other NIST Beam Codes are added, the film may not be able 
to detect some of the mixtures, specifically low energy beta and low 
energy x-ray mixtures. However, the primary point that needs to be 
fully understood is that the film does today and will tomorrow be 
capable of detecting and accurately and precisely measuring and 
reporting those fields currently used within the medical community.

(3) The new ANSI N13.11 Standard, as it now stands, will be difficult 
in some proposed categories for all commercial dosimeters. Don't take 
my word for it. Simply ask your current processor, be they in-house 
or commercial, how their dosimeter and their algorithms will be able 
to process under the proposed Standard, and what test data do they 
have to support their statements. Do not accept rhetoric.

(4) The revised ANSI N13.11 Standard will not be out on the streets 
for several years. NVLAP and DOELAP (which hopes to combine the 
proficiency test requirements into one Standard with this revision) 
implements a phased in approach. Even with the Standard in place, all 
processors are allowed a phased in approach. The NRC and state 
regulatory agencies also have a say as to what parts of the Standard 
they will accept for dosimetry processing. An example is the 1993 
Standard has a Co-60 test category. The NRC and States do not require 
that this be tested in Category IV. Only Cs-137 is in the 
requirement. 

(5) Film dosimetry is the primary dosimeter used not only in the USA, 
but worldwide (85% is film). This dosimeter will simply not go away 
because of a Standard. That is NOT the intent of the ANSI N13.11 
Committee.

In conclusion, I have also contacted Steve Sims (ORNL) the N13.11 
Committee Chair, Mike Lantz (APS) working committee member and Paul 
Martin (NVLAP) to address this rumor and put it to rest, once and for 
all.

I have also asked Tosh Ushino (ICN Dosimetry) who is the Vice Chair 
of the N13 Committee (the high level governing body) to address this 
rumor at the N13 Committee Meeting being held on January 29 at the 
Virginia Beach HOS Meeting.

Please make this post available to MedPhysics and other medically 
oriented professional listservers.

Thank you.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sandy Perle					Tel:(714) 545-0100 / (800) 548-5100   				    	
Director, Technical				Extension 2306 				     	
ICN Worldwide Dosimetry Division		Fax:(714) 668-3149 	                   		    
ICN Biomedicals, Inc.				E-Mail: sandyfl@earthlink.net 				                           
ICN Plaza, 3300 Hyland Avenue  		E-Mail: sperle@icnpharm.com          	          
Costa Mesa, CA 92626

Personal Website:  http://www.geocities.com/scperle
ICN Worldwide Dosimetry Website: http://www.dosimetry.com

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