Changes

Where  is the corrected meter reading of the working standard under the identical conditions of measurement as those established for the measurement of air kerma rate, ''K_a'', given by Eq. 1.  

Where  is the corrected meter reading of the working standard under the identical conditions of measurement as those established for the measurement of air kerma rate, ''K_a'', given by Eq. 1.  

The accuracy of dosimetry for radiation therapy and radiation safety is vital. Accuracy of radiation dosimetry depends on the quality of calibration of the device used to quantify the radiation dose. Calibration of such an equipment can be performed in two types of laboratories: primary standard lab also which mostly are commonly called national meteorological institute in the country or at a secondary standard laboratory. A primary laboratory maintains the primary standard for measurement of ionizing radiation in SI units which is compared and calibrated with the standard maintained in BIPM whereas the secondary lab maintains the standard which is used to calibrate dosimeters and survey meters which is traceable one of the NIMs. In Canada, the NRC MSS maintains primary standards for ionizing radiation. CNSC lab has been maintaining the reference standards for ionizing radiation (air kerma and ambient dose equivalent for radiation protection) as an accredited lab since November 2016. CNSC laboratory has been recently recognized by IAEA/WHO as a secondary standard lab, which maintains the secondary standard for air kerma in SI units in Cs-137 field for radiation protection dosimetry and disseminates it through calibration of standards to use within the lab and for the standardization of Cs-137 field to calibrate gamma survey instruments and electronic personal dosimeters.  The CNSC Laboratory, as a full member of the network, is committed to adhering to the network's charter and serving users of ionizing radiation across the country under its mandate in collaboration with National Research Council of Canada (Primary Standard Laboratory for ionizing radiation in Canada) and internationally through the IAEA SSDL program.

= Recognition of CNSC Laboratory by IAEA as a Secondary Standard Dosimetry Laboratory The accuracy of dosimetry for radiation therapy and radiation safety is vital. Accuracy of radiation dosimetry depends on the quality of calibration of the device used to quantify the radiation dose. Calibration of such an equipment can be performed in two types of laboratories: primary standard lab also which mostly are commonly called national meteorological institute in the country or at a secondary standard laboratory. A primary laboratory maintains the primary standard for measurement of ionizing radiation in SI units which is compared and calibrated with the standard maintained in BIPM whereas the secondary lab maintains the standard which is used to calibrate dosimeters and survey meters which is traceable one of the NIMs. In Canada, the NRC MSS maintains primary standards for ionizing radiation. CNSC lab has been maintaining the reference standards for ionizing radiation (air kerma and ambient dose equivalent for radiation protection) as an accredited lab since November 2016. CNSC laboratory has been recently recognized by IAEA/WHO as a secondary standard lab, which maintains the secondary standard for air kerma in SI units in Cs-137 field for radiation protection dosimetry and disseminates it through calibration of standards to use within the lab and for the standardization of Cs-137 field to calibrate gamma survey instruments and electronic personal dosimeters.  The CNSC Laboratory, as a full member of the network, is committed to adhering to the network's charter and serving users of ionizing radiation across the country under its mandate in collaboration with National Research Council of Canada (Primary Standard Laboratory for ionizing radiation in Canada) and internationally through the IAEA SSDL program.   The CNSC laboratory is equipped with a radiation protection level gamma irradiator that provides a range of air kerma and dose equivalent rates in Cs-137 gamma radiation fields, as well as a variety of low activity traceable wide area radioactive sources, calibrated neutron Am-Be sources, and a neutron irradiator.  As an SSDL, the CNSC Laboratory maintains a full set of reference ion chambers and electrometers that are traceable to National Research Council of Canada (NRC) in SI units for air kerma and provides calibration services for portable radiation safety equipment and reference standards to internal CNSC clients, including CNSC inspectors, other federal and provincial government departments under MOUs.       How does it benefit CNSC?     By becoming a member of the network of SSDL, CNSC is reaffirming its commitment as through ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation to continue to maintain the traceability of standards as a secondary standard laboratory and continue to provide services with the required accuracy and precision to clients within CNSC and counterpart institutions within federal and provincial governments with MOUs which meets the accuracy, precision and traceability requirements.     Membership of the network is aligned with CNSC priorities as Modern, trusted, global and agile                                                                 {| class="wikitable" |'''CNSC  Priority''' |'''Description  on CNSC Laboratory alignment with the priority''' |- | Modern | Adopting latest standards ISO/IEC 17025  for Laboratory management for calibration services and recognition with  IAEA as a secondary standard lab to promote accuracy, traceability of  ionizing radiation in SI units |- | Trusted | Recognition by national institutes such  as standards council of Canada and NRC MSS as an ISO/IEC 17025 accredited lab  and recently by IAEA as a full member of the network |- | Global | Participate in global network of SSDLs  to aimed to improve the accuracy of radiation dosimetry and to support  network members globally through IAEA |- | Agile | Continue to evolve and grow to meet  demands of current and future needs. There is increasing trend among  calibration laboratories to get accredited to universally accepted ISO 17025  standard |}       '''How does it benefit the primary laboratory? ''' The activities at the CNSC Laboratory align well those of the NRC and partner both in serving Canadian users of the ionizing radiation and within IAEA SSDL network.     '''How does it benefit Canada as a country?'''   Every developed country in the world has a primary laboratory and one or more Secondary standards laboratories to support calibration requirements. As an SSDL, CNSC is in a position to support and serve other network members as well as within TerraCanada and clients as per scope of accreditation.     '''How does it benefit the network?'''   Over several decades, the CNSC laboratory has a long history of providing equipment management and calibration services to clients within CNSC and other federal and provincial government departments. Over the years, CNSC has made huge strides toward developing a management system that fully complies with the stringent requirements of ISO/IEC 17025, introducing efficiencies through machine vision systems, automated data collection, data analysis tools with automated functionality to minimise human errors due to task repeatability, compliant Excel spreadsheets, and other management tools.   Design of protocols for PT for dosimetry, which are practical to implement for relatively small laboratories is quite challenging. There are no such protocols exist and hard to conceive because of challenges for calibration laboratories. CNSC has experience in designing and implementing of such protocols. =

 

The CNSC laboratory is equipped with a radiation protection level gamma irradiator that provides a range of air kerma and dose equivalent rates in Cs-137 gamma radiation fields, as well as a variety of low activity traceable wide area radioactive sources, calibrated neutron Am-Be sources, and a neutron irradiator.  As an SSDL, the CNSC Laboratory maintains a full set of reference ion chambers and electrometers that are traceable to National Research Council of Canada (NRC) in SI units for air kerma and provides calibration services for portable radiation safety equipment and reference standards to internal CNSC clients, including CNSC inspectors, other federal and provincial government departments under MOUs.    

 

How does it benefit CNSC?  

 

By becoming a member of the network of SSDL, CNSC is reaffirming its commitment as through ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation to continue to maintain the traceability of standards as a secondary standard laboratory and continue to provide services with the required accuracy and precision to clients within CNSC and counterpart institutions within federal and provincial governments with MOUs which meets the accuracy, precision and traceability requirements.  

 

Membership of the network is aligned with CNSC priorities as Modern, trusted, global and agile                              

 

                              {| class="wikitable"

| '''CNSC  Priority'''

| '''Description  on CNSC Laboratory alignment with the priority'''

|-

| Modern

| Adopting latest standards ISO/IEC 17025  for Laboratory management for calibration services and recognition with  IAEA as a secondary standard lab to promote accuracy, traceability of  ionizing radiation in SI units  

|-

| Trusted

| Recognition by national institutes such  as standards council of Canada and NRC MSS as an ISO/IEC 17025 accredited lab  and recently by IAEA as a full member of the network  

|-

| Global

| Participate in global network of SSDLs  to aimed to improve the accuracy of radiation dosimetry and to support  network members globally through IAEA  

|-

| Agile

| Continue to evolve and grow to meet  demands of current and future needs. There is increasing trend among  calibration laboratories to get accredited to universally accepted ISO 17025  standard  

|}

 

 

'''How does it benefit the primary laboratory? '''

 

The activities at the CNSC Laboratory align well those of the NRC and partner both in serving Canadian users of the ionizing radiation and within IAEA SSDL network.  

 

'''How does it benefit Canada as a country?'''  

 

Every developed country in the world has a primary laboratory and one or more Secondary standards laboratories to support calibration requirements. As an SSDL, CNSC is in a position to support and serve other network members as well as within TerraCanada and clients as per scope of accreditation.  

 

'''How does it benefit the network?'''  

 

Over several decades, the CNSC laboratory has a long history of providing equipment management and calibration services to clients within CNSC and other federal and provincial government departments. Over the years, CNSC has made huge strides toward developing a management system that fully complies with the stringent requirements of ISO/IEC 17025, introducing efficiencies through machine vision systems, automated data collection, data analysis tools with automated functionality to minimise human errors due to task repeatability, compliant Excel spreadsheets, and other management tools.

 

Design of protocols for PT for dosimetry, which are practical to implement for relatively small laboratories is quite challenging. There are no such protocols exist and hard to conceive because of challenges for calibration laboratories. CNSC has experience in designing and implementing of such protocols.