Minnesota Administrative Rules

4731.4424 POSSESSION OF SEALED SOURCES AND BRACHYTHERAPY SOURCES; REQUIREMENTS.

A.

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

B.

A licensee in possession of a sealed source must:

(1)

test the source for leakage before its first use unless the licensee has a certificate from the supplier 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 an agreement state in the sealed source and device registry.

C.

To satisfy the leak test requirements under item B, a licensee must measure the sample so that the leak test can detect the presence of 0.005 microcurie (185 Bq) of radioactive material on the sample.

D.

A licensee must retain leak test records according to part 4731.4504, subpart 1.

E.

If the leak test reveals the presence of 0.005 microcurie (185 Bq) or more of removable contamination, the licensee must:

(1)

immediately withdraw the sealed source from use and store, dispose, or cause it to be repaired according to parts 4731.2000 to 4731.2950 and 4731.3000 to 4731.3175; and

(2)

file a report within five days of the leak test according to part 4731.4527.

F.

A licensee need not perform a leak test on:

(1)

sources containing only radioactive material with a half-life of less than 30 days;

(2)

sources containing only radioactive material as a gas;

(3)

sources containing 100 microcuries (3.7 MBq) or less of beta- or gamma-emitting material or ten microcuries (0.37 MBq) or less of alpha-emitting material;

(4)

seeds of iridium-192 encased in nylon ribbon; or

(5)

sources stored and not being used. The licensee must, however, test each source under this subitem for leakage before any use or transfer, unless it has been leak-tested within six months before the date of use or transfer.

G.

A licensee in possession of sealed sources or brachytherapy sources, except for gamma stereotactic radiosurgery sources, must conduct a semiannual physical inventory of all such sources in the licensee's possession. The licensee must retain each inventory record according to part 4731.4504, subpart 2.

Statutory Authority:

MS s 144.1202; 144.1203

History:

29 SR 755

Published Electronically:

March 12, 2009