In order to use the HDR features, it is necessary to have a brachytherapy machine setup for your account. To request a new page navigate to the Manage Sites and Machines Page and click the Request new site/machine button. Certain functions such as attaching sources, exchanging sources and other source management activities are only accessible to users with Physicist Administrator or account owner credentials. Performing HDR QA may be done by any therapist or physicist roles if authorized when creating the QA template.

To manage radioactive sources navigate to the "Manage Radioactive Sources" page. If unit conversions have not been established for the account the Setup (unit settings) page will be displayed. Unit conversions must be established before using the rest of the radioactive source management features.

Unit Settings

Before using the radioactive source management features it is necessary to establish:

• the conversion factors between Curies (Ci) and Gigabecquerels (GBq).
• the conversion factor between Curies (Ci) and source strength (U) for the isotopes to be used in the system.
• the isotope half-life in days for isotopes to be used in the system.
• the default activity units to be used for the account (Ci or GBq).

If unit conversions have not been established for an account clicking on the Radioactive Sources link on the Manage Service page will display the Setup (unit settings) page. Subsequently, unit settings can be adjusted by clicking on the Unit Settings button in the Manage Radioactive Sources page.

Conversion factors for source strength and isotope half-lives need only be entered for isotopes you intend to use with the system. Currently, isotopes Ir-192 and Co-60 are supported.

Select whether you wish to display activity in Curies or Gigabecquerels by choosing from the Default Activity Units drop-down menu.

After entering conversion factors and settings click the Sign off button and enter the username and password to authorize the changes.

After signing the changes click the Submit Unit Settings button to save the changes.

 Attaching a Source to an HDR Device

Once a new brachytherapy device has been added to a site an initial source must be established. Navigate to the "Manage Radioacive Sources" page and click the Add Source button next to the new HDR device.

 Next, enter the information for the source currently active in the brachytherapy device. 

• Serial Number: Manufacturer's source serial number
• Radioisotope: Choose Ir-192 or Co-60. Note that for a particular device the radioisotope cannot be changed once established.
• Calibration Activity in Default Activity Units: Source activity from the manufacturer's calibration documents.
• Calibration Date: Click on the calendar icon and enter the calibration date and time in the popup dialog. Note that this is assumed to be in the time zone selected in the following drop down control.
• Timezone for Calibration Time: It is important that the time zone where the calibration date and time were recorded is selected as the decay calculations take into account the difference in time zones between the source calibration location and the time zone established for the account. To change the time zone for your account click on your name in the upper right of the screen.
• Upload Certification Document: Upload the manufacturer's certification document.
• Upload Optional Files: Upload any other relevant files for the source e.g. Engineer reports.

Click the Sign Off button and enter your user credentials.

Once the information has been signed off click the Link New Source to Machine button to complete the attachment.

Exchanging HDR Sources

Once a source has been attached to a machine the process for exchanging sources is similar to the initial attachment except that the radioisotope type may not be changed. Click the Exchange button by the source you wish to exchange.

This will open the Exchange Radioactive Sources page.

Next, enter the information for the source being put into the brachytherapy device.

• Serial Number: Manufacturer's source serial number
• Calibration Activity in Default Activity Units: Source activity from the manufacturer's calibration documents.
• Calibration Date: Click on the calendar icon and enter the calibration date and time in the popup dialog. Note that this is assumed to be in the time zone selected in the following drop down control.
• Timezone for Calibration Time: It is important that the time zone where the calibration date and time were recorded is selected as the decay calculations take into account the difference in time zones between the source calibration location and the time zone established for the account. To change the time zone for your account click on your name in the upper right of the screen.
• Upload Certification Document: on document.
• Upload Optional Files: Upload any other relevant files for the source e.g. Engineer reports.

Click the Sign Off button and enter your user credentials.

Once the information has been signed off click the Link New Source to Machine button to complete the attachment.

Details View

Clicking on the Details button by a brachytherapy machine displays detail information on the source currently active in the machine.

Edit Radioactive Source

To edit an existing radioactive source click on the Edit button by a brachytherapy machine.  This will display the details that were entered when the source was exchanged. Details may be edited. A digital signoff is required to save changes.

Total Activity View 

The total activity view displays the total calibrated and current activity for all sources currently in brachytherapy equipment and any sources that have been exchanged but are still on site awaiting shipment. To access the Total Activity Page click the View Total Activity button on the Manage Radioactive Sources page.

The total activity can be filtered by site and isotope. The units can be toggled between Curies and Gigabequerels.

Source History

The source history view displays the complete source history for each brachytherapy machine in the system. To open the source history button click the view displays the dates that the source was certified, exchanged into the machine (activated), exchanged out of the machine (inactivated) and shipped. Details about the source can be accessed by clicking the Details button next to the source. 

If the source has been inactivated but not yet shipped the Ship button will appear next to the source. Sources that are inactivated but not shipped are still counted towards the total source activity of the site. To record source shipment click the Ship button and provide the ship out date.

Daily HDR Source Activity Test

The HDR daily activity test records the console activity on the machine against the expected activity of the source based on the calibration date and time and the radioisotope half-life. The daily HDR source activity test is added to a QA template the same as any other test (see Manage Templates). The daily source activity is found under the HDR daily section.

When setting the tolerances (see Manage Baselines and Tolerances) for the daily HDR source activity test set the baseline type to absolute.

The evaluated figure is the absolute value of the percentage deviation between the measured and expected console readings ((measured-expected)/expected x100%) in this case.

When performing (see Performing QA Schedules and Entering Data) the source activity test the expected activity will be automatically calculated. Enter the console reading. If a baseline and tolerances have been established the deviation will be displayed and color coded green (pass), yellow (fail tolerance), or red (fail action limits).

Monthly HDR Source Strength Test

The HDR monthly activity test records the measured source strength against the expected source strength. The monthly HDR source strength test is added to a QA template the same as any other test (see Manage Templates). The monthly source strength test is found under the HDR monthly section.

When setting the tolerances (see Baselines and Tolerances) for the monthly HDR Source Strength Test set the baseline type to absolute. The evaluated figure is the absolute value of the percentage deviation between the measured and expected source strengths ((measured-expected)/expected x100%) in this case. 

When performing (see Performing QA Schedules and Entering Data) the source strength test the expected source strength will be calculated from the entered electrometer reading, the entered conversion factor, the calculated temperature -pressure correction. The conversion factor is a combination of electrometer and well chamber calibration factors that will convert raw electrometer current to source strength. If a baseline and tolerances have been established the percent deviation will be displayed as color coded green (pass), yellow (fail tolerance), or red (fail action limits).