What must be used to prepare brachytherapy sources for implants?

Preparing brachytherapy sources for implants involves ensuring safety and protection for both the patient and the healthcare providers. The use of lead barriers is crucial in this context because they help shield against radiation exposure. Brachytherapy involves placing radioactive sources inside or near the area requiring treatment, and during the preparation of these sources, high levels of radiation may be present.

Lead barriers serve as effective protective measures to minimize radiation exposure to staff and others in the vicinity. They can absorb and block the radiation emitted from these sources, ensuring a safer environment during the handling and preparation processes.

While other options, such as automated systems, disposable equipment, and isolation chambers, may play roles in the overall management of brachytherapy procedures, they do not specifically address the critical need for radiation protection during the preparation of the radioactive sources. Thus, the appropriate use of lead barriers is essential to uphold safety standards in brachytherapy source preparation.