[A check method for controlling the radiophosphorus-counting system (author's transl)]

Area of Science:

• Nuclear medicine
• Radiochemistry
• Medical instrumentation

Background:

• Accurate calibration of radiation detection equipment is crucial for reliable diagnostic and therapeutic procedures.
• Radiophosphorus (32P) tests are used in various medical applications, including tumor detection.
• Ensuring the stability and precision of the counting system is paramount before patient measurements.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a simple, cost-effective method for checking the performance of a handle probe and counting system used in radiophosphorus tests.
• To establish a reliable calibration procedure using a beta-radiator for routine quality control.

Main Methods:

• A 64 nCi Strontium-90 (90Sr) beta-radiator source was encased in a plexiglass cylinder for safe handling.
• The counting system was adjusted with a 40 dB amplifier and a 0.70 discriminator setting.
• The system's performance was evaluated by measuring the count rate from the Strontium-90 source.

Main Results:

• The adjusted counting system achieved a stable count rate of 1710 counts per minute (cpm) with a standard deviation of +/-2%.
• This calibration method demonstrated consistent and reproducible results.
• The use of Strontium-90 proved to be a stable and safe beta-radiator for this application.

Conclusions:

• The developed Strontium-90 calibration method provides a reliable and practical means to verify radiophosphorus counting systems.
• This technique is suitable for routine quality control, ensuring accuracy before clinical tumor measurements.
• The method's advantages include low cost, radionuclide stability, and safe operation, making it ideal for widespread use.