Secondary Standard Dosimetry Laboratory (SSDL)

Ionizing radiation has many applications in various fields of medicine, agriculture, industry and education. Nowadays, various sources of ionizing radiation such as radioactive sources, X-ray generator devices and particle accelerators are widely used in the mentioned areas. In order to measure the output of radiation generating devices, radiation measuring dosimeters are used. Dosimeters generally must have two characteristics of precision and accuracy in reading dosimetry responses. Dosimetric accuracy relates to the dosimeter device and its manufacturer, while the precision of dosimetry results should be verified using a standard reference and in scientific terms, the radiation dosimeters must be calibrated. For this purpose, there are centers called standard dosimetry laboratories. These laboratories operate at two levels: Primary Standard Dosimetry Laboratories (PSDL) and Secondary Standard Dosimetry Laboratories (SSDL). Parsisotope’s SSDL Laboratory is a member of the international network of SSDLs in the world titled SSDLs of Network WHO / IAEA. Secondary Standard Dosimetry Laboratory of Parsisotope (SSDL) was exploited in 1991 in “Karaj Agricultural Research and Nuclear Medicine Center ” which today is called “Alborz Health and Agriculture Research Center”.

SSDL lab is a member of international network of secondary standard dosimetry laboratories. The network was established in 1976 in partnership with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the World Health Organization (WHO). Agency’s dosimetry laboratory has got the role of mother dosimetry laboratory in this network, and it is in communication with primary standard dosimetry laboratories and the Bureau International des Poids et Mesures (BIPM). SSDL laboratories around the world act as a bridge between primary standard dosimetry laboratories and users of ionizing radiation. With the development and increasing use of ionizing radiation in various fields of science, technology and medicine, the primary standard dosimetry laboratories could not meet the large volume of the ionizing radiation users’ requests. Therefore, the duty of providing services in the dosimetry of ionizing radiation and calibration of various dosimeters used in radiation work places were handed over to secondary standard dosimetry laboratories, and primary standard dosimetry laboratories’ main duty is to do research about measurement methods and improving the accuracy of the measurements.

Parsisotope’s SSDL Laboratory, which is located in Alborz Health and Agriculture Research Center, has been established in accordance with international standards and with the approval of the International Atomic Energy Agency, and it is accepted as a national standard calibration and dosimetry reference .Also, it has been able to maintain its accuracy in the field of standard dosimetry and calibration, internationally.

The mission of the Parsisotope’s secondary standard dosimetry laboratory

SSDL Lab is known as a reputable center in the field of calibration of radiometers. The SSDL laboratory covers the dosimetry of radiotherapy devices and the calibration of activity measuring devices (Dose Calibrator) in nuclear medicine centers of the country. The mission of the Parsisotope’s secondary standard dosimetry laboratory is to provide radiation users with dosimetry and calibration services with suitable quality and in accordance with international standards

Parsisotope’s secondary standard dosimetry laboratory is in charge of supply of calibrated radiation fields and always is known as a reference for Calibration of dosimetry laboratories. Also, accreditation to standard radiation centers in order to set up radiation systems, for the first time and with the establishment of radiation laboratories in Iran is done by this center.