Loyola University Medical Education Network

Dose Calibration


Finally, there is the NRC and State requirement that every dose of every radiopharmaceutical must be calibrated before administration to the patient and that the dose be within ±10% of the prescribed dose. This calibration is an additional assurance that the patient's radiation dose will be as low as possible, consistent with producing high-quality images. Prescribed doses can only be changed by a physician and the change must be noted on the requisition form. Administration of a diagnostic dose not within 50% of the prescribed dose, or of the incorrect radiopharmaceutical or to the wrong patient, or by an unprescribed route, is no longer classified as a reportable misadministration unless the whole body dose exceeds 5 R or a single organ dose exceeds 50 R.


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Stephen Karesh, PhD.

Last Updated: August 14, 1996
Created: March 1, 1996