Use of Dosimetry Badges 

Purpose/ Applicability: The purpose of this SOP is to establish how dosimetry badges are supposed to be worn and used while in the Veterinary Teaching Hospital.

Scope: It is the responsibility of all individuals that may be exposed to radiation that is produced from a piece of medical imaging equipment to wear a dosimetry badge when they are in the clinical environment at the VTH. It is the responsibility of all individuals to make sure that the dosimetry badge is returned at the end of the recording period that is printed on their dosimetry badge.

Definition(s):

• Dosimetry Badge- is a personal dosimeter used for monitoring cumulative radiation dose due to ionizing radiation.
• DRS- Division of Research Safety
• Dosimetry Team- a team composed of the animal imaging coordinators and the associate director of biosecurity and safety
• Externship- any clinical component that is not part of the University of Illinois curriculum
• Externship Dosimetry Badge- a personal dosimeter used for monitoring cumulative radiation dose due to ionizing radiation while an individual is on an externship.
• Temporary Dosimetry Badge- is a dosimeter used for monitoring cumulative radiation dose due to ionizing radiation. These are utilized when individuals have not yet received their personalized dosimetry badge.
• VTH- Veterinary Teaching Hospital

Equipment:

• Dosimetry badge comes with an attached clip that can be clipped to your ID badge or collar. The personalized dosimetry badge has the individuals name, what type of dosimeter it is and the date range that it is to be used to record radiation exposure.
• Temporary dosimetry badge comes with an attached clip that can be clipped to your ID badge or collar. These badges do not have an individual’s name on them but do have the individual’s name assigned to them in the instadose program. The badges do have different numbers on them so that you can tell which badge is assigned to which individual. After they are returned, they are scanned to see what radiation exposure the individual received. This is recorded on the amp+ website.

Procedure:

1. All individuals that need a dosimetry badge will complete a University of Illinois Dosimetry request form and submit it to the dosimetry team. 
   a. The student class will receive an email prompting them to complete the form prior to the start of clinical rotations.
2. The dosimetry team processes the requests, inputs the information into the amp+/ Mirion website, and assigned annual radiation safety training on the DRS website.
3. DRS delivers the completed personalized dosimetry badges to the VTH.
4. All individuals will be sent an email when the new dosimetry badges are distributed.
   a. Employee dosimetry badges will be distributed by the Animal Imaging Coordinator to employees’ service areas.
   b. Fourth year student dosimetry badges are quarterly badges and will be distributed to the designated student badge area in LAC X2-2 for students to pick-up after receiving notification from the Animal Imaging Coordinator that the badges are ready.
   c. Student externship dosimetry badges will be marked with a sticker and will be in the designated student badge area in LAC X1-3. 
   d. First, second, and third year students, are distributed annual badges that will be distributed to their mailbox.
5. Individuals previously issued a dosimetry badge need to return it to the Animal Imaging Coordinator when the new badge is issued.
   a. All individuals that do not return their dosimetry badge will be charged a $25 fee to replace it.
   b. The Animal Imaging Coordinator will document the dosimetry badges that have been returned on an excel form.
6. DRS will retrieve returned badges from the Animal Imaging Coordinator
7. DRS will provide individual badge holders information regarding the level of radiation exposure for the exposure period via email