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Key messages
- Certain types of X-ray equipment must be periodically tested by an approved tester, to ensure that they comply with the relevant safety standards.
- Regular testing also ensure that radiation sources produce optimum-quality images, with the minimum necessary dose to the patient.
Testing requirements
The following types of X-ray equipment, when used for human diagnostic imaging purposes, have been prescribed by the Radiation Regulations 2017 and therefore require a valid certificate of compliance issued by an approved tester before the equipment can be used for human diagnostic imaging purposes:
- Plain Film Radiographic X-ray Equipment
- Fluoroscopic X-ray Equipment
- Computed Tomography Scanners
- Mammography X-ray Equipment
The current Radiation Safety Standard for mammography X-ray equipment does not apply to mammography units that utilise CR or DR detector technologies and therefore these systems are not required to have a certificate of compliance issued by an approved tester. The department is updating the current standard to include CR and DR systems. Licence holders will be notified when the updated standard is published.
A certificate of compliance will not be required where a management licence holder possesses a prescribed radiation source, but the source is not used for human diagnostic purposes.
The expiry date of a certificate of compliance issued in respect of a prescribed radiation sources is specified in table 1:
Table 1: Certificate of compliance expiry
| Prescribed radiation sources type | Date of expiry |
|---|---|
| Plain-film radiographic X-ray equipment | 2 years after issue |
| Fluoroscopic X-ray equipment | 2 years after issue |
| Computed tomography scanners | 12 months after issue |
| Mammography X-ray equipment | 12 months after issue |
The department maintains a list of the approved testers who are available to test radiation sources on a fee for service basis.
Radiation safety standards
The following radiation safety standards have been specified in respect of prescribed radiation sources:
- Radiation Safety Standard: Plain-film radiographic X-ray equipment – deals with diagnostic plain-film radiographic X-ray equipment (including mobile) used in the medical and chiropractic areas for human diagnostic purposes.
- Radiation Safety Standard: Fluoroscopic X-ray equipment – deals with diagnostic fluoroscopic X-ray equipment including under-table tube, mobile and C-arm image intensifiers used for human diagnostic purposes.
- Radiation Safety Standard: CT equipment – deals with CT equipment used in the medical sector for human diagnostic purposes.
- Radiation Safety Standard: Mammography X-ray equipment – deals with mammography X-ray equipment used for human diagnostic purposes. This standard does not apply to digital mammography. Digital mammography includes CR and DR systems.
Reviewed 15 May 2023
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Our phone service is available Monday to Friday, from 9.00am to 1.00pm or we can be contacted via email.
Radiation Safety GPO Box 4057, Melbourne, VIC 3000