IEC TR 61948-4:2006
(Main)Nuclear medicine instrumentation - Routine tests - Part 4: Radionuclide calibrators
Nuclear medicine instrumentation - Routine tests - Part 4: Radionuclide calibrators
This technical report covers the routine testing of radionuclide calibrators used in nuclear medicine. Such devices utilise ionization chambers of the well type (directly coupled to an appropriate electronic circuitry (IEC 61145)) and a direct readout in units of ACTIVITY. Requirements and specific methods to determine performance parameters are described in IEC 61303 and IEC 61145. These methods are primarily designed for acceptance testing.
General Information
- Status
- Published
- Publication Date
- 13-Nov-2006
- Drafting Committee
- WG 2 - TC 62/SC 62C/WG 2
- Current Stage
- DELPUB - Deleted Publication
- Start Date
- 22-Mar-2019
- Completion Date
- 26-Oct-2025
Relations
- Effective Date
- 05-Sep-2023
Overview
IEC TR 61948-4:2006 is a technical report that specifies routine tests and quality-control procedures for radionuclide calibrators used in nuclear medicine. The report addresses devices that use well-type ionization chambers with a direct readout in units of activity and refers to accepted methods and requirements given in IEC 61303 and IEC 61145. Its purpose is to define simple, repeatable field tests (routine tests) to monitor instrument performance and detect deviations from reference (acceptance) data.
Key topics and requirements
- Scope and device type: Applies to radionuclide calibrators employing well-type ionization chambers directly coupled to appropriate electronics and providing activity readouts.
- Essential routine tests:
- Background response: Measured with the sample holder in place at the most-used nuclide setting; evaluates environmental and electronic noise.
- Constancy of instrument response: Performed using an ionization chamber test source (long half-life > 5 years) and compared to reference data recorded at acceptance.
- System linearity: Assesses response across the activity range used; at least one data point per decade. A recommended method is the decaying-source method using a short-lived radionuclide (e.g., 99mTc) with mono-exponential fit and comparison of measured vs. expected activities.
- Test frequencies (routine schedule):
- Background response: Daily (each day the instrument is used).
- Constancy (single nuclide setting): Daily (each day the instrument is used).
- Constancy (all settings used): Weekly.
- System linearity: Yearly for one radionuclide setting.
- Additional checks: Per manufacturer recommendations.
- Definitions: Includes key terms such as acceptance test, routine test, ionization chamber test source, radionuclide factor, system linearity, background response, and reference data.
Applications and who uses it
- Medical physicists, nuclear medicine technologists, service engineers and clinical QA personnel use IEC TR 61948-4 to set up and document routine quality control for radionuclide calibrators.
- The report supports daily and periodic checks to ensure accurate activity measurements for patient dosing, radiopharmacy dispensation, and diagnostic/therapeutic procedures.
- Useful for establishing local QC protocols, audit evidence, and maintenance scheduling aligned with international practice.
Related standards
- IEC 61303:1994 - Particular methods for describing performance of radionuclide calibrators
- IEC 61145:1992 - Calibration and usage of ionization chamber systems
- IEC 61948-1:2001 - Routine tests - Part 1: Radiation counting systems
- IEC 60788:2004 - Glossary of defined terms
Keywords: radionuclide calibrators, nuclear medicine, routine tests, ionization chamber, constancy testing, system linearity, background response, IEC TR 61948-4:2006.
Frequently Asked Questions
IEC TR 61948-4:2006 is a technical report published by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). Its full title is "Nuclear medicine instrumentation - Routine tests - Part 4: Radionuclide calibrators". This standard covers: This technical report covers the routine testing of radionuclide calibrators used in nuclear medicine. Such devices utilise ionization chambers of the well type (directly coupled to an appropriate electronic circuitry (IEC 61145)) and a direct readout in units of ACTIVITY. Requirements and specific methods to determine performance parameters are described in IEC 61303 and IEC 61145. These methods are primarily designed for acceptance testing.
This technical report covers the routine testing of radionuclide calibrators used in nuclear medicine. Such devices utilise ionization chambers of the well type (directly coupled to an appropriate electronic circuitry (IEC 61145)) and a direct readout in units of ACTIVITY. Requirements and specific methods to determine performance parameters are described in IEC 61303 and IEC 61145. These methods are primarily designed for acceptance testing.
IEC TR 61948-4:2006 is classified under the following ICS (International Classification for Standards) categories: 11.040.50 - Radiographic equipment. The ICS classification helps identify the subject area and facilitates finding related standards.
IEC TR 61948-4:2006 has the following relationships with other standards: It is inter standard links to IEC TR 61948-4:2019. Understanding these relationships helps ensure you are using the most current and applicable version of the standard.
You can purchase IEC TR 61948-4:2006 directly from iTeh Standards. The document is available in PDF format and is delivered instantly after payment. Add the standard to your cart and complete the secure checkout process. iTeh Standards is an authorized distributor of IEC standards.
Standards Content (Sample)
TECHNICAL IEC
REPORT TR 61948-4
First edition
2006-11
Nuclear medicine instrumentation –
Routine tests –
Part 4:
Radionuclide calibrators
Reference number
IEC/TR 61948-4:2006(E)
Publication numbering
As from 1 January 1997 all IEC publications are issued with a designation in the
60000 series. For example, IEC 34-1 is now referred to as IEC 60034-1.
Consolidated editions
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edition numbers 1.0, 1.1 and 1.2 refer, respectively, to the base publication, the
base publication incorporating amendment 1 and the base publication incorporating
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TECHNICAL IEC
REPORT TR 61948-4
First edition
2006-11
Nuclear medicine instrumentation –
Routine tests –
Part 4:
Radionuclide calibrators
© IEC 2006 ⎯ Copyright - all rights reserved
No part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or
mechanical, including photocopying and microfilm, without permission in writing from the publisher.
International Electrotechnical Commission, 3, rue de Varembé, PO Box 131, CH-1211 Geneva 20, Switzerland
Telephone: +41 22 919 02 11 Telefax: +41 22 919 03 00 E-mail: inmail@iec.ch Web: www.iec.ch
PRICE CODE
Commission Electrotechnique Internationale L
International Electrotechnical Commission
МеждународнаяЭлектротехническаяКомиссия
For price, see current catalogue
– 2 – TR 61948-4 © IEC:2006(E)
CONTENTS
FOREWORD.3
INTRODUCTION.5
1 Scope and object.6
2 Normative references .6
3 Terms and definitions .6
4 Test methods .8
4.1 BACKGROUND RESPONSE .8
4.2 Constancy of instrument response.8
4.3 SYSTEM LINEARITY .8
4.4 Additional checks .8
4.5 Frequency of ROUTINE TESTS.8
Bibliography.10
Index of defined terms .11
Table 1 – Frequency of ROUTINE TESTS.9
TR 61948-4 © IEC:2006(E) – 3 –
INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION
____________
NUCLEAR MEDICINE INSTRUMENTATION –
ROUTINE TESTS –
Part 4: Radionuclide calibrators
FOREWORD
1) The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) is a worldwide organization for standardization comprising
all national electrotechnical committees (IEC National Committees). The object of the IEC is to promote
international co-operation on all questions concerning standardization in the electrical and electronic fields. To
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The main task of IEC technical committees is to prepare International Standards. However, a
technical committee may propose the publication of a technical report when it has collected
data of a different kind from that which is normally published as an International Standard, for
example "state of the art".
IEC 61948-4, which is a technical report, has been prepared by subcommittee 62C:
Equipment for radiotherapy, nuclear medicine and radiation dosimetry, of IEC technical
committee 62: Electrical equipment in medical practice.
The text of this technical report is based on the following documents:
Enquiry draft Report on voting
62C/387/DTR 62C/401/RVC
Full information on the voting for the approval of this technical report can be found in the
report on voting indicated in the above table.
– 4 – TR 61948-4 © IEC:2006(E)
This publication has been drafted in accordance with the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.
In this technical report the following print types are used:
• requirements, compliance with which can be tested, and definitions: in roman type;
• explanation, advice, introductions, general statements, exceptions and reference: in smaller roman type;
• test specifications: in italic type;
• TERMS DEFINED IN CLAUSE 3 OF THIS TECHNICAL REPORT OR LISTED IN THE INDEX OF DEFINED
TERMS: SMALL CAPITALS.
A list of all parts of the IEC 61948 series, published under the general title Nuclear medicine
instrumentation – Routine tests, can be found on the IEC website.
The committee has decided that the contents of this publication will remain unchanged until
the maintenance result date indicated on the IEC web site under http://webstore.iec.ch in the
data related to the specific publication. At this date, the publication will be
• reconfirmed;
• withdrawn;
• replaced by a revised edition, or
• amended.
A bilingual version of this publication may be issued at a later date.
TR 61948-4 © IEC:2006(E) – 5 –
INTRODUCTION
This technical report is based on the German Standard DIN 6855-11, Qualitätsprüfung
nuklearmedizinischer Messsysteme – Teil 11: Konstanzprüfung von Aktivimetern, the English
document Protocol for Establishing and Maintaining the Calibration of Medical Radio
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