Section 1840. Requirements for possession of sealed sources and brachytherapy sources

A. Licensees in possession of any sealed source or brachytherapy source shall follow the radiation safety and handling instructions supplied by the manufacturer.

B. Licensees in possession of a sealed source shall:

1. Test the source for leakage before its first use unless the licensee has a certificate from the supplied indicating that the source was tested within six months before transfer to the licensee; and

2. Test the source for leakage at intervals not to exceed six months or at other intervals approved by the NRC or another agreement state in the Sealed Source and Device Registry.

C. To satisfy the leak test requirements of this section, licensees shall measure the sample so that the leak test can detect the presence of 0.005 µCi (185 Bq) of radioactive material in the sample.

D. If the leak test reveals the presence of 0.005 µCi (185 Bq) or more of removable contamination, the licensee shall:

1. Immediately withdraw the sealed source from use and store, dispose, or cause it to be repaired in accordance with the requirements in Parts III (12VAC5-481-380 et seq.) and IV (12VAC5-481-600 et seq.) of this chapter; and

2. File a report within five days of the leak test in accordance with 12VAC5-481-2080 C.

E. Licensees need not perform a leak test on the following sources:

1. Containing only radioactive material with a half-life of less than 30 days;

2. Containing only radioactive material as a gas;

3. Containing 100 µCi (3.7 MBq) or less of beta or gamma-emitting material;

4. Containing 10 µCi (0.37 MBq) or less of alpha-emitting material;

4. Seeds of iridium-192 encased in nylon ribbon; and

5. Sources stored and not being used. However, the licensee shall test each such source for leakage before any use or transfer unless it has been leak tested within six months before the date of use or transfer.

F. Licensees in possession of sealed sources or brachytherapy sources, except for gamma stereotactic radiosurgery sources, shall conduct a semi-annual physical inventory of all such sources in its possession.

Historical Notes

Derived from Volume 22, Issue 25, eff. September 20, 2006; amended, Virginia Register Volume 24, Issue 18, eff. June 12, 2008; Volume 32, Issue 24, eff. August 25, 2016.

Statutory Authority

§ 32.1-229 of the Code of Virginia.