In Vivo Internal Occupational Monitoring: Technical Aspects for Quality Control of the Detection Systems

Abstract

The development and implementation of a methodology for internal occupational monitoring requires that the laboratory has consistent and reproducible calibration techniques for its detection system. Quality control protocols should also be established for reporting reliable results of intakes and internal dose assessments. The Brazilian network of internal dosimetry laboratories includes five in vivo monitoring laboratories that do not have yet standardized protocols for performing quality control of their detection systems. In order to standardize techniques related to the quality control of in vivo measurements, the Guide “Procedimiento para Determinación In Vivo de Radionuclideos en el Cuerpo Humano”, was elaborated under the scope of the Project IAEA RLA 0049. This Guide was reviewed and compared with procedures currently adopted in the Internal Dosimetry Laboratory of the Centro de Desenvolvimento da Tecnologia Nuclear (LDI/CDTN). The Guide suggests techniques for quality control, including: energy calibration and resolution, efficiency calibration and determination of minimum detectable activity (MDA). The methodologies used for quality control of the LDI/CDTN detection system were demonstrated to be in accordance with the procedures established in the IAEA Guide. This work aims to present and provide methodologies for routine quality control of the in vivo monitoring laboratories. These methodologies, when properly implemented, constitute an essential stage for the implementation of a quality management system and laboratory accreditation according to the ABNT ISO/IEC 17025 standard.