Dosimetry of a self-shielded gamma irradiator small animal whole-body irradiations: comparisons between ionisation chamber and alanine

Because of reproducibility and repeatability problems with reference measurements made with an ionisation chamber in a self-protected GSRD1 irradiator, a comparison was made with alanine dosimetry for a whole-body mouse irradiation setup in a sterile box. The twisting of the cables in the cable duct and in the irradiator cell and the irradiation of the ionisation chamber connector are likely to have caused the problems encountered. These problems are not observed on other types of irradiators with more suitable cable passages. A difference up to 8.4% was observed between the alanine dosimetry and ionisation chamber. The influence of the number of animals in the sterile box on the whole-body dose of the animals was also evaluated with alanine and found to be <2%.

Automated summary

This study compared alanine dosimetry with ionisation chamber measurements for whole-body mouse irradiation and found reproducibility issues caused by cable twisting and irradiation of the ionisation chamber connector. Results showed a difference of up to 8.4% between alanine dosimetry and ionisation chamber measurements, and the influence of the number of animals in the sterile box on whole-body dose was found to be less than 2%.