Dosimeter Badges in your clinic: Key FAQs Answered

What are veterinary dosimeter badges?

Veterinary dosimeter badges are small devices worn by veterinary professionals to monitor their exposure to radiation in workplaces where diagnostic imaging procedures are performed on animals.

•  Why are veterinary dosimeter badges necessary?

Veterinary dosimeter badges are crucial for ensuring the safety of personnel who work with radiation-emitting equipment, helping to monitor exposure levels, and preventing potential health risks.

• How much does a dosimeter badge cost? 

The cost is $88.00 per person per year. The price includes quarterly replaced dosimeter badges and quarterly lab reports.

• Do I need to return the badge whenever I get a new quarterly badge? 

Yes, you must return all the dosimeter badges every quarter following our return process. 

• What happens if I don’t return a badge or if I don’t return it on time? 

Returns must be on time to maintain the monitoring process which may lead to increased costs and regulatory issues. To avoid this, there is a $50 per badge, per quarter late fee. This ensures compliance, data accuracy, and the effective management of dosimetry programs, prioritizing worker safety.

• How do veterinary dosimeter badges work?

These badges contain sensitive materials that change when exposed to radiation, allowing for measuring radiation exposure over time.

•  Who needs to wear veterinary dosimeter badges?

Anyone working with radiation-emitting equipment in veterinary settings, including veterinarians, technicians, and radiology staff, should wear dosimeter badges.

• How often should veterinary dosimeter badges be worn?

Dosimeter badges should be worn whenever there is a possibility of radiation exposure, following workplace protocols and regulations.

• How are veterinary dosimeter badges read and analyzed?

Badges are collected quarterly and sent to our specialists for analysis, with reports provided to the veterinary facility.

•  Are veterinary dosimeter badges reusable?

No, dosimeter badges are single-use devices and should be replaced after analysis.  

• Are veterinary dosimeter badges transferable?

No, each dosimeter badge is person-specific and nontransferable. 

• Are there regulations or guidelines for veterinary dosimeter badges?

Yes, our services are governed by The National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program (NVLAP) which provides guidelines and regulations for the use of dosimeter badges to ensure safety.

• How can I obtain veterinary dosimeter badges for my practice?

You can obtain dosimeter badges from https://form.jotform.com/221224959076157

• Who should I contact for more information about veterinary dosimeter badges?

For further assistance or questions about veterinary dosimeter badges, please get in touch with our customer service team support@newvetequipment.com or call at 530-722-4977

Dosimeters and Their Use in a Veterinary Practice

Dosimeters are an important part of radiation safety in a veterinary practice. Although dosimeters themselves don’t provide protection against radiation, they help monitor the effectiveness of radiation safety protocols so that team members stay within the set limits for occupational radiation exposure. Here are some things to consider when using dosimeters in a veterinary practice…

Who Needs to Wear a Dosimetry Badge in a Veterinary Practice?

The short, simple answer is that EVERYONE who restrains pets for radiographs at any time, or who will be in the x-ray suite or near the machine, during an x-ray exposure requires a badge. 

A longer and more official answer can be found by checking state and federal guidelines for specific regulations.

Often, state guidelines are stricter than federal. For example, federal rules require monitoring for any employees who may receive over 25% of their specified dose limit per any quarter. But many states specify 10% rather than 25%. 

Some states list very specific requirements like wearing a monitoring device for any employee that will be restraining an animal during radiographs, regardless of what their expected exposure dose over time will be. Also, AAHA has requirements regarding dosimeters for practice that wish to become AAHA accredited.

When rules differ, default to the strictest requirement to be safe. And remember to check the most up-to-date guidelines, in case of any changes.

Some practices prefer to have dosimeters for ALL employees, even those who won’t be involved with x-rays, for liability purposes.

Can Dosimetry Badges Be Shared?

Each person needs to have their own badge, including relief vets, temporary employees, volunteers, etc.

That’s because the whole point of dosimetry badges is to monitor the exposure of each person over a period of time. Sharing badges, or reassigning a badge to a different person, would make it impossible to tell who received which portions of the documented radiation exposure.

How Much Do Dosimeters Cost? 

As with much of veterinary technology, costs vary. Average prices range from $50-100 per dosimeter per year, depending on the type of dosimeter.

Look for the best price available from a supplier you trust—one that is reliable and meets any guidelines for your state.

Check how often monitoring is included, and when the dosimeters will need to be replaced/repurchased.

How to Choose a Veterinary Dosimeter?

There are different types of dosimeters available, each of which has their own advantages and disadvantages. Look at exactly what you’re receiving, rather than just the purchase price alone. 

Factors other than price include…

• Sensitivity, includes the ability to distinguish between different energies and types of radiation, the minimum measurable dose that can be accurately measured, and whether the angle of exposure affects the results.

• Durability, including fading or fogging, or loss of ability to receive information over time, especially after exposure to light, heat, or moisture/humidity.

• How the information is received or processed from the dosimeter, including whether the information is obtained in real-time or must be sent out for processing and whether the dosimeter can be re-read or only processed once.

Where and When Should Dosimeters Be Worn?

For veterinary employees who take radiographs (or who help restrain patients for radiographs or are in the suite for any reason during an x-ray exposure), the badge should be worn throughout the entire length of an x-ray study.

A dosimeter should be worn near the neck, on the outside of any lead PPE. Usually, this means clipped to the top of a lead apron.

For most employees, one badge is enough. But in some cases, more than one monitoring device is recommended.

One example is pregnant employees. If pregnant employees will be performing radiographs—which is allowed in some states but not others—a fetal dosimeter may be required, which is worn under the lead apron(s). 

Some experts recommend adding a ring dosimeter for fluoroscopy.

State monitoring forms may list specific location requirements for dosimeters, or they may ask veterinary practitioners to report where on the body dosimeters are being worn and whether they are under or over the lead apron.

Where Should Dosimeters Be Stored?

Dosimetry badges should be stored outside of the x-ray suite when not in use. There should be one specific place for storage, to ensure dosimeters don’t get lost or accidentally damaged.

Some types of dosimeters are sensitive to heat, including sunlight. You can ask your badge company for specifics, but otherwise, it’s best to avoid wearing badges outside the building, especially in sunlight.

Damage could also occur if a badge is accidentally thrown into the wash, etc. Storing badges in a predetermined spot will help avoid damage and unnecessary expenses to replace damaged badges.

Control badges may also be provided along with the badges for employees. Ask the manufacturer or vendor about where to store control badges.

Where Can I Learn More About Veterinary Dosimetry Requirements?

For more specific information, check with your state veterinary board. Also, check state and federal radiation regulations. When the rules are different between state and federal, default to the strictest requirements.

This includes federal and/or state OSHA requirements. Calling your state OSHA can be very helpful.

Idexx’s Lower the Dose page (IDEXX Veterinary Radiation Safety Center - IDEXX US) has a search bar where a veterinarian or practice manager can look up their state’s radiation guidelines.

VIN (Veterinary Information Network) consultants can answer questions for VIN members. To help with the many regulatory requirements of running a veterinary practice, there is also a VIN OSHA Compliance and Practice Safety Course available. 

Going through all the laws and rules can be a pain. But with the legal and ethical requirements of radiation safety, there’s no reason dosimeters shouldn’t be provided and used for the safety of veterinary personnel.

Written by: Dr. Tammy Powell, DVM

See our badges here: https://newvetequipment.com/veterinary-dosimeter-badge

Dosimeters Protecting Veterinarians from Radiation Exposure

Radiation safety is crucial in veterinary medicine, and dosimeters play a role in protecting team members. 

All veterinary personnel who are involved with taking radiographs should be familiar with how occupational radiation exposure can affect health, as well as with how to maximize their safety and reduce the amount of radiation to which they’re exposed.

Here’s how dosimeters fit into the radiation safety picture…

What Do Dosimeters Do?

A dosimeter, or dosimetry badge/ring, is a small device that measures radiation exposure from a source of radiation outside the body over a specified period of time. Here, we’ll focus on radiographic studies. But dosimeters are also important for practices that have additional sources of ionizing radiation (CT, nuclear medicine, etc.).

The purpose of a dosimetry badge is to ensure that radiation safety protocols are effective so that a person does not receive a dangerously high level of radiation exposure. 

Radiation exposure should ALWAYS be as low as possible. However, there are recognized set limits of radiation doses that are considered acceptable for a person, below which adverse health effects are unlikely. 

This safe exposure limit varies depending on a person’s occupation (whether they are a member of the “general public” or someone who has occupational exposure to x-rays or other sources of radiation), as well as a person’s age (limits are stricter for anyone under 18), and circumstances such as pregnancy.

Dosimeters help to measure and document that radiation exposure stays below these established safety limits, both over the short term and over a lifetime.

Do Dosimeters Provide Any Radiation Shielding or Protection?

No, dosimeters are not protective against radiation in and of themselves. But they contribute to radiation safety by monitoring employee radiation exposures, which helps verify that safety protocols are effective. 

Or, if radiation exposure is high, dosimeters can uncover this problem and prompt a veterinary practice to evaluate their equipment or make appropriate changes to their radiation safety protocols.

Are Dosimeters Required? 

Although rules and specifics vary from state to state, generally speaking, YES—dosimeters are an absolute legal requirement in veterinary practices that use x-rays or other sources of ionizing radiation. This is because of potential health and safety risks for employees.

There are also legal requirements regarding sharing of this information with employees (such as providing each employee that uses a dosimeter with their yearly exposure report) and how many years the veterinary practice has to keep this information on file.

In addition to legal requirements, dosimeters are a good idea for liability reasons. In case a current or former employee ever attributes a health problem to job-related radiation exposure, it’s best to have dosimetry records available to show that radiation exposure was at a level considered safe. 

For this reason, some veterinary hospitals obtain dosimeters for all employees, even those that spend minimal (or zero) time performing radiographs. Although using dosimeters only for team members involved in taking x-ray studies is probably more common.

How Often Are Dosimeters Monitored?

Monthly and quarterly are common frequencies for processing or reading dosimeters. But the specific timeline for how often dosimeters need to be checked varies between states. 

So, prior to ordering yearly badges, double-check if your state is one that requires checking dosimeters quarterly or monthly. And consider what would work best for your hospital. More frequent monitoring could allow for prompt changes to safety protocols when needed.

What Happens If Radiation Exposure Is High?

If the exposure measured on a dosimeter is higher than expected, measures should be taken to reduce radiation exposure to that employee(s).

This could mean re-evaluating safety protocols, including the principles of shielding, distancing, and minimizing exposure time.

For example, maybe lead aprons or gloves have cracks in the shielding and need to be replaced. Or, maybe team members need to be educated and monitored to ensure they are wearing the right gear every time.

Distancing from the machine (the radiation source) could be achieved through hands-free restraint. And minimizing exposure time could be achieved through improving technique so there are fewer retakes, or by rotating staff who take x-rays so the same person isn’t exposed all the time.

With everything we know about radiation safety, it’s important to implement dosimeters in veterinary practice—both to meet legal requirements, and to help ensure safety protocols are effective. In the next article, we’ll discuss more details about how dosimeters are used in a veterinary practice. Stay tuned!

Written by: Dr. Tammy Powell, DVM

See our badges here: https://newvetequipment.com/veterinary-dosimeter-badge