NAC459.307. Testing sealed sources for leakage.

     1. Any licensee who possesses sealed sources shall have each sealed source containing radioactive material tested for leakage at intervals not to exceed 6 months, unless a longer interval is authorized by the Division, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission or an agreement state in the Sealed Source and Device Registry maintained by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. In the absence of a certificate from a transferor indicating that a test has been made within 6 months before the transfer, the sealed sources should not be used until tested, but no leak tests are required when:

     (a) The source contains only radioactive material with a half-life of less than 30 days;

     (b) The source contains only radioactive material as a gas;

     (c) The source contains 100 microcuries (3.7 megabecquerels) or less of beta- or gamma-emitting material or 10 microcuries (370 kilobecquerels) or less of alpha-emitting material;

     (d) The sealed source is stored and is not being used. The sources must be tested for leakage before any use or transfer unless they have been leak tested within 6 months before the date of use or transfer; or

     (e) The source is seeds of iridium-192 encased in nylon ribbon.

     2. The leak test must be capable of detecting the presence of 0.005 microcurie (185 becquerels) of radioactive material on the test sample. The test sample must be taken from the sealed source or from the surfaces of the device in which the sealed source is permanently mounted or stored on which contamination might be expected to accumulate. Records of leak test results must be maintained for 5 years for inspection by the Division and, for persons licensed pursuant to the provisions of this chapter for the medical use of radioactive material, must include, without limitation:

     (a) The model number and serial number, if one has been assigned, of each sealed source tested;

     (b) The identity of each source by radionuclide and its estimated activity;

     (c) The results of the test of each sealed source;

     (d) The date of the test of each sealed source; and

     (e) The name of the person who performed each test.

     3. If the leak test reveals the presence of 0.005 microcurie (185 becquerels) or more of removable contamination, or 0.001 microcurie (37 becquerels) of radon 222 in a 24-hour period if the sealed source is a brachytherapy source manufactured to contain radium, the licensee shall immediately inform the Radiological Health Section of the Division by telephone, withdraw the sealed source, or the device in which it is permanently mounted, from use and cause it to be placed in locked storage. A written report must be filed with the Division within 5 days of the test and must include, without limitation:

     (a) A description of the equipment involved;

     (b) The model number and serial number, if assigned, of the leaking source;

     (c) The radionuclide of the leaking source and its estimated activity;

     (d) The test results;

     (e) The date of the test; and

     (f) A description of the action taken.

     [Bd. of Health, Radiation Control Reg. §§ 3.5.3.3.5-3.5.3.3.5.3, eff. 2-28-80]—(NAC A 9-6-88; A by Dep’t of Human Resources by R137-01, 5-30-2003; A by Bd. of Health by R085-06, 11-13-2006)