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Regular photon comparison measurements of passive dosimeters as per Section 29 sentence 1 of the Measures and Verification Ordinance under pandemic conditions

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  • Division 6
  • News from the annual report
  • Metrology for Society
21.12.2022

Due to the COVID‑19 pandemic, the comparison measurement could not be carried out as usual with a personally monitored evaluation on site at the dosimetry services. As an interim solution, PTB sent the dosimeter probes to the dosimetry services by post after irradiation. The dosimetry services were to evaluate the probes by an appointed date, document the evaluation by means of video or photos and record further details, such as the software versions used. In this way, the quality assurance of official dosimetry in Germany was ensured even under pandemic conditions.

Since the new Measures and Verification Act was introduced in 2015, the Physikalisch‑Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB) has had the sole responsibility for regular photon comparison measurements. This task used to be divided between two authorities. PTB was in charge of the irradiation and data evaluation, while the competent local verification office was responsible for monitoring the evaluation at the dosimetry service. As per Section 29 sentence 1 of the Measures and Verification Ordinance of 11 December 2014 (Federal Law Gazette BGBI. I p. 2025), PTB is required to organize comparison measurements for dosimeters on a regular basis. This applies to dosimeter probes of a conformity assessed passive integrating dosimeter, which have to be included in comparison measurements on a regular basis as per Section 29 sentence 1 of the Measures and Verification Ordinance. Dosimeter probes have to be irradiated at least once a year; the respective dosimetry service then has to evaluate them in the presence of a PTB employee. Due to the COVID‑19 pandemic, it was not possible to carry out the comparison measurement as usual since business trips and access to the dosimetry services’ premises for external persons were restricted, mainly to those responsible for maintaining their operability. As an interim solution, PTB sent the dosimeter probes to the dosimetry services by post after irradiation, together with a form for recording the results. The dosimetry services were to evaluate the probes by an appointed date, document the evaluation by means of video or photos and record further details, such as the software versions used. In this way, the quality assurance of official dosimetry in Germany was ensured even under pandemic conditions.

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