How often must a full calibration of the Cobalt 60 beam be carried out?

A full calibration of the Cobalt 60 beam is essential to ensure accurate dosing and treatment delivery in radiation therapy. Cobalt 60 is a radioactive source that undergoes decay over time, which can affect its output and the dose delivered to the patient. Conducting a full calibration annually allows for any discrepancies in the beam output to be identified and corrected, thus ensuring consistent and safe treatment.

The requirement for annual calibration aligns with industry standards and regulatory guidelines, which emphasize the necessity of periodic checks to maintain equipment accuracy and performance. This practice helps in confirming that the machine operates within the specified tolerances and that the delivered dose matches the intended therapeutic dose. Regular calibration schedules, such as monthly or quarterly, may be more appropriate for routine checks or minor adjustments but do not replace the comprehensive analysis and recalibration that occurs annually. Biannual calibration is also less frequently required than annual calibration for Cobalt 60 systems in standard practice. Therefore, the choice for annual full calibration stands as the best practice for maintaining the standards of care in radiation therapy using Cobalt 60.