What must be completed prior to conducting acceptance tests on radiation therapy equipment?

Before conducting acceptance tests on radiation therapy equipment, it is essential to perform a radiation protection survey of the installation room. This step ensures that the environment is safe for both patients and staff by evaluating the adequacy of shielding and assessing radiation exposure levels in and around the treatment area.

Conducting a radiation protection survey helps identify any potential hazards, ensuring that safety protocols are in place and that the facility complies with regulatory requirements. This is a crucial preliminary measure to create a secure environment for the subsequent testing of the equipment as it guarantees that any measurements taken during acceptance testing are within safe limits and that there are no unforeseen radiation risks.

Other elements like calibration checks, reviews of treatment plans, or maintenance audits are important but occur after ensuring that the radiation environment is safe for operations. These procedures support the overall safety and functionality of the equipment but are secondary to confirming that the installation is safe for conducting any further testing or treatment.