Trusted Radiation Monitoring Since 1949
Trusted Radiation Monitoring Since 1949
NVLAP Accreditation
RDC is accredited to provide dosimetry services with the National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program (NVLAP) which is part of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). NVLAP Lab Code 100512-0.
Licensing
RDC is licensed by the State of Texas, Department of State Health Services for TLD dosimeter testing and collection/analysis of leak test (swipe) samples.
The mission of the Texas Department of State Health Services’ Radiation Control Program is to protect and promote the physical and environmental health of the people of Texas. They strive to prevent unnecessary radiation exposure to the public through effective licensing, registration, inspection, enforcement, and emergency response.
The UPS EasyReturns shipping label will be included with the pre-addressed envelope provided in your regular shipments. Put your badges in the return envelope, apply the return label to the packaging, seal, and mail back. If you receive a box, the EasyReturns shipping label will be placed at the bottom of the box. Feel free to reuse the box your badges were shipped in, remove label from backing, and adhere to the largest side of the package.
Ship your package with UPS:
If UPS is not available in your area, please follow the steps below;
Please return all dosimeter badges in the box or pre-addressed envelope provided in your regular shipments. If you don’t have the box or envelope, you can use any padded envelope and any box if needed. Badges should be returned to:
Radiation Detection Company
3527 Snead Drive
Georgetown, TX 78626
Please note that shipments are considered packages/parcels, not letters or large envelopes. Packages with insufficient postage may be delayed by the carrier, resulting in UnReturned Dosimeter fees if received after the return period.
Pregnant Radiation workers who have declared their pregnancy in writing to the RSO must be assigned a fetal monitor and may not exceed 500 mrem for the entire gestational period. The TLD dosimeter badge should be worn close to the embryo/fetus to obtain the most accurate dose.
Use the box provided by RDC in which the Sealed Source Wipe Test Analysis kit was shipped. When returning swab samples, place contents inside the box in a manner that will avoid damages during shipping.
If you lose a TLD or OSL dosimeter badge, you will need to notify RDC and order a replacement badge. Your account will be charged $29 for each lost badge. If the badge is found and returned within 60 days of the end of the most recent wear period, a $5 credit will be issued to your account.
RDC offers monthly, bi-monthly and quarterly exchange frequencies.
Commitment to the Industry At RDC, we pride ourselves in our longevity and our commitment to service. In business since the dawn of the industry, RDC understands the threats ionizing radiation pose in the workplace, and how important your service is to you and your employees. In-house experts are available during our business hours to assist in an un-biased, knowledgeable manner. We are accredited to NVLAP (Lab Code 100512-0).
Commitment to Our Customers RDC is privately owned with many employees who have been with us for over 20 years. The people working on your account are familiar with the technology, familiar with the industry and most importantly, familiar with you. We have intentionally well staffed customer care and sales departments so that when you call us, you can get a real person instead of a phone tree. We value our customers and wish to see them treated as we would want to be treated.
Here’s what you can expect from RDC:
RDC will not charge you hidden fees or extra surcharges. When you receive a price from RDC, that is what you will see on your bill (provided you didn’t lose or damage a badge). Other provider’s in the marketplace often add in additional charges for these requests making your total cost of service much higher than advertised. So even with a low badge price, when you add in all the additional charges, RDC comes out the clear winner.
Commitment to Innovation Radiation Detection Company maintains state of the art lab facilities to ensure we can provide our customers with the highest quality of service. We have invested heavily in our online systems to provide our customers immediate electronic access to their records.
No. RDC’s TLD and OSL dosimeter badges are meant for use by one individual at a time so that the dose associated with that badge is assigned to that one individual’s records. If multiple individuals use one badge, it is not possible to separate out what dose belongs to each individual therefore making the reading invalid for the intended user of the badge.
Yes, only a badge for your current wear period that has been UNUSED / UNWORN may be reassigned by completing a Badge Reassignment Form found under the HELP tab in your online portal. Please follow the steps on page 2 of the form and submit for your dose records. You may also view the Knowledge Base article listed under the HELP tab in your online portal for additional guidance.
Please note that badges must never be shared with others as the dose recorded should only be assigned to one wearer. If you’re unsure whether a badge has been used or not, then it’s highly encouraged that you order a new badge.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact our Customer Service team.
Reassigning a “Spare” badge
A “Spare” badge may be reassigned when it’s in your current wear period (the dates listed on the front of the badge under the barcode align with your current wear period cycle) and it has been UNUSED / UNWORN.
Many customers keep Spare badges on hand for various reasons: Usually to save from having to pay rush fees for new hires, temp hires, lost badge replacements, visitors that need monitoring, etc.
The actual badge wearer should be created (or existing) in your online account portal to have a specific pin number generated for them & their dose report record. From there you will need to complete a Badge Reassignment Form.
Badges cannot be shared with others as the dose recorded should only be assigned to one wearer.
It’s imperative that you fill out a Badge Reassignment Form for the dose report records to be correct.
Reassigning an existing badge
A badge may be reassigned when it’s in your current wear period (the dates listed on the front of the badge under the barcode align with your current wear period cycle) and it has been UNUSED / UNWORN.
This scenario could occur if you didn’t get your badge wearers updated in time for shipment, a new hire replacing an ex-employee, an existing wearer damaged or misplaced their badge, amongst other situations.
The actual badge wearer should be created (or existing) in your online account portal to have a specific pin number generated for them & their dose report record. If the name physically listed on the badge does not need badges in the future, make sure to update their status to inactive in your online portal. From there you will need to complete a Badge Reassignment Form.
It’s imperative that you fill out a Badge Reassignment Form for the dose report records to be correct.
Badges can never be shared with others as the dose recorded should only be assigned to one wearer.
One badge, one wearer, one pin number.
If you have any questions, please contact our Customer Service team.
No, only one badge is required for the fetal area.
A Fetal TLD dosimeter badge should be worn directly over the Fetal area in order to receive the most accurate reading on my Dose Report.
If you are monitoring occupational dose to employees in a room where the source is located, or a room near a source that radiation could potentially reach, an Area TLD Dosimeter Monitor should be placed at the highest exposure level where an employee may be working. Never place an Area Monitor on top of a source, or in a high radiation area that would not reflect occupational exposure.
It is the responsibility of the company to prove that the public is not being exposed to more than 100 mrem/year from outside a room/building. If you are monitoring potential exposure to the public, the Area Monitor should be placed on the outside of the room at the highest exposure level where employees/people are walking, sitting or may have access.
RDC’s badges do read below 10 mrem. We do not report dose below 10 mrem due to the potential of false results at these very low levels of exposure and the 10mrem threshold is the level required to be reported by the regulations governing this industry.
The control badge is used to monitor non-occupational dose that the personnel badge was exposed to. This includes background and other sources of radiation not a part of the workplace radiation exposure. The control badge should be stored in a location away from the radiation source at your facility. Break rooms or receptionist areas are good examples of areas that are typically appropriate.
DSN stands for “Dosimeter Serial Number” and is printed beneath the barcode on every dosimeter and ring used by RDC. DSNs are not visible to the customer, but are scanned during assembly the assembly process, along with the DTNs, on their corresponding badge/ring labels. DSNs indicate the completion of the build process and that an OSL or TLD dosimeter/ring has been issued.
DTN stands for “Dosimeter Transaction Number” and is the seven digit, alphanumeric data printed on the front and back labels of each dosimeter. On the ring label, it is the six digit numeric data printed above the barcode. DTNs are unique for every OSL and TLD dosimeter issued.
A thermoluminescent dosimeter, or TLD, is a type of radiation dosimeter. A TLD dosimeter measures ionizing radiation exposure by measuring the amount of visible light emitted from a crystal in the detector when the crystal is heated. The amount of light emitted is dependent upon the radiation exposure.
This dosimeter provides real-time, instant information about radiation dose and dose rate.
RDC’s dosimetry services are provided on a subscription basis. Active and current subscribers will receive a shipment of personalized dosimeters each wear period.
When you sign up with RDC, you are signing up for our dosimetry subscription service.
Your fees include:
Use of our badges
User-friendly reports based on your desired reporting period
Access to MyRadCare (RDC’s online account management program)
Access to our live, highly trained Customer Care and Technical staff
No fees for set-up, additions, deletions, changes, multiple groups
Free control badge with each account
Prepaid Accounts: Subscriptions for 20 badges or fewer per wear period must be prepaid. The terms of service for prepaid accounts require that a positive cash balance be maintained to insure continuous dosimetry service.
A funding replenishment invoice is generated when both of two conditions exist: (1) There are 90 days or fewer prior to the next scheduled badge wear date; and (2) The estimated pricing for those badges exceed the current cash balance.
Funding replenishment invoices estimate a 12-month period of service based upon the subscriber’s current service type, quantity, frequency and the RDC price list in effect at the time of the renewal estimate. Billing is based upon actual customer usage and the RDC price list in effect at the time of shipment. Ancillary charges (such as rush processing, expedited shipments or unreturned dosimeter fees) are in addition to annual estimates and will be deducted from prepaid accounts. Credit card payments are encouraged.
Shipments are not made to prepaid accounts with zero or negative cash balances.
Invoice Accounts: Subscriptions for 21 badges or more per wear period may be billed on a postpaid basis. Payment terms are NET 30 days. Credit card payments are encouraged.
Shipments are not made to accounts with unpaid balances greater than 60 days.
All accounts can be paid using credit card, check or ACH payments
Effective Dose Equivalent (EDE), or Webster calculations, refer to a calculation used to reflect the dose of a radiation worker wearing a lead apron.
EDE 1, or Webster 1, would be calculated using a single dosimeter worn on the collar outside of the lead apron. The EDE is equal to 0.30 of the collar badge deep dose to reflect the shielding of the lead apron. The eye and shallow dose will remain the same as the calculated collar badge due to the lead apron not providing shielding for these areas.
EDE 2, or Webster 2, would be calculated using two dosimeters. One dosimeter is worn on the collar outside of the lead apron, the other is worn on the waste under the lead apron. The shallow and eye doses are calculated using the shallow dose delivered to the collar badge. The deep dose is equal to 1.5 the deep dose of the waist badge, plus .04 of the collar badge deep dose.
It is important to note that not all states allow EDE calculations. Before requesting this for your dose report, you must be sure your state will allow it.
RDC’s customers are best served when we understand the sources around which you work. A completed Radiation Source Sheet helps us determine the accurate response of our dosimeters. An improperly exposed badge can be more easily identified and errors can corrected by making minor adjustments that ensure the most accurate dose readings possible.
Radiation Source Sheets are also used to calculate dose from our ring dosimeters. A ring dosimeter contains one phosphor, unlike our typical TLD badge, which contains four separate phosphors and filtration that can discriminate different energies. This makes it impossible to automatically determine what type of radiation a ring has been exposed and this discrimination of energies is what determines the type of radiation to which the badge has been exposed.
During the setup of your account, a review of your sources allows us to set the type of radiation the ring will be exposed to. This insures the proper correction values are applied during the calculation process. While we can report dose from our ring dosimeters without the proper correction factors, the readings may not be as accurate.
Environmental Reports are designated for RDC’s type 82E and 83E environmental dosimeters. These reports are printed at the end of the regular reports and have the letter “E” at the end of the report number. There is currently no accreditation available for environmental dosimeters and our current NVLAP (Lab Code 100512-0) accreditation requires all non-accredited dosimeters to be reported on a separate page.
Yes! Please contact our Customer Care Department and we will gladly set you up to receive electronic copies of your reports through our online account management system.
Reports, paper or electronic, should be kept for as long as your company is in business.
With DoseCheck, an individual can log in using their Badge Number and PIN, and see their year-to-date and previous year’s dose. This feature is free of charge to our customers. This view is not an accredited format and does not qualify for audit purposes: it does, however, enable the user to continuously monitor their exposure whenever they want.
If the dose is affected at all, the dose will be lower because heat is used to detect/extract the energy from the TLD dosimeter badge.
Yes, any report containing results that are outside of acceptable limits will be reviewed and the customer will be notified immediately so that appropriate actions can be taken.
TLD dosimeter badges are read by heating phosphors within the TLD until the absorbed energy from ionizing radiation is released in the form of light. The light emitted is used to calculate the exposure to the badge. A charted image of the light output is stored in our database as a glow curve. If any contaminant, such as oil or debris, has reached the phosphor, it will emit light, giving the glow curve an image that is not typical of ionizing radiation. When this happens, the reading is flagged on the Dose Report. While it is apparent that a badge has been exposed to a contaminant, it is impossible to determine how much of the light output is from the contamination, and how much is from ionizing radiation. The dose is reported based on the total emitted light, but is flagged on the Dose Report as an “estimate” due to the abnormal glow curve. This affords the customer the opportunity to evaluate a wearer’s history and provide an estimated dose if applicable.
It is normal to receive dose on the control dosimeter. It represents the background and transit dose received on the badge from the time it left our facility and until it was returned. The dose recorded on a control dosimeter is usually low, and relatively constant from report to report. A control dosimeter will usually record a small dose (5 – 20 mrem per month).
RDC assigns PINs (Personal Identification Numbers) to identify wearers within an account. These PINs are unique to each individual. Dose information is reported and accumulated within the account based on these PINs. The PIN will still be listed on the report for each wearer. It also appears on every badge and ring we issue to the customer.
Lifetime dose may be added for a wearer when requested by the customer. It is the customer’s responsibility to provide the lifetime dose to RDC. That has always been the case. If there is any question on our end about a wearer’s identity, we will contact the customer for resolution prior to making any changes or reporting any dose.
Returned dosimeter badges are read and reports are mailed and available online within 10 business days of receipt of the badges.
If you are using RDC’s online account management program, an email will be sent to you when your reports are available for viewing, downloading, and printing.
If you are not using our online account management program, your dose reports will be mailed to you.
The effective dose equivalent is the calculated dose to an organ using a weighting factor based on the effectiveness of the type of radiation of the exposure.
The absorbed dose describes the amount of energy that is absorbed by a unit of mass that is irradiated with some type of radiation of some magnitude.
Rem is a unit used to measure the amount of radiation that results in the same amount of human tissue damage caused by one roentgen of radiation.
Rad is a unit of measurement for the amount of a radiation absorbed in matter.
The millirem (mrem) is one thousandth of a rem. A rem is a large dose of radiation, so millirem (mrem) is often used for the dosages commonly experienced, such as the amount of radiation received from medical x-rays and background sources.
Whole Body (TEDE) 5,000 mrem/yr
Any Organ (TODE) 50,000 mrem/yr
Skin (SDE) 50,000 mrem/yr
Lens of Eye (LDE) 15,000 mrem/yr
Member of the Public 100 mrem/yr
Minors 500 mrem/yr
Embryo/Fetus 500 mrem for the entire pregnancy
The external exposure of the lens of the eye and is taken as the dose equivalent at a tissue depth of 0.3 centimeter (300 mg <2>).
The hands, forearms, elbows, feet, knees, leg below the knees, and ankles. Permissible radiation exposures in these regions are generally greater than those for whole body exposure because the extremities contain fewer blood-forming organs and have smaller volumes for energy absorption.
The internal and external dose of ionizing radiation received by workers in the course of employment.
RDC’s radiation dose reports are reported in millirem (mrem).
Yes, it is perfectly safe for a breastfeeding mother to perform, or receive any kind of X-ray procedure. X-ray radiation can kill living cells, but this does not affect the milk, nor does it expose the baby to any type of radiation. An x-ray machine only presents a hazard when it is energized, once the machine is turned off, a human being will not store, or emit ionizing radiation.
Licensees who use sealed sources must have the source tested periodically for leakage. The wipe of a sealed source must be performed using a leak test kit. The sample must be analyzed for radioactive contamination. The analysis must be performed by a person approved by the NRC or an Agreement State.
The science concerned with the recognition, evaluation, and control of health hazards to permit the safe use and application of ionizing radiation.
Minors working near or with radioactive materials must be monitored. The annual occupational dose limits for minors are 10 percent of the annual dose limits specified for adult workers, which is 500 mrem in one year or 42 mrem per month. The customer is responsible for monitoring the dose for minors on a monthly frequency to ensure dose does not exceed 42 mrem per month.
If there is a malfunction in your equipment and you have discontinued monitoring for radiation exposure, you may never know that your health and/or the health of your employees were compromised. Continuous monitoring for radiation exposure not only allows you to protect the health of you and your employees, but it also helps you to protect your business from liability should a lawsuit be filed by an employee who claims they received excessive radiation while under your employment.
Responsibility for damage caused by exposure to radiation in the work place is most often assigned to the employer. Employers utilizing sources of radiation in their business are required by the NRC to have a license permitting safe use of their source. Exposure to hazardous radiation is governed by laws that are designed to protect employees through safe handling and use of radioactive sources. Radiation damage experienced by employees is often an indication of failing to abide by these laws which leaves the employer exposed to legal liability for the damage caused. Developing and implementing a radiation safety program which includes documented occupational dose monitoring will assist employers in limiting their exposure to liability in the workplace.
Yes. Digital x-ray machines do not require film, but still produce the same risk of exposure as any other x-ray machine.
Every employee monitored is a beneficiary as they work with peace of mind knowing that their health is not at risk.
Every company owner is a beneficiary as documented occupational dose monitoring provides protection against current and future legal employee health claims so long as the owner is able to show documented evidence that his/her employees did not exceed their occupational dose limits during their term of employment. This is why records should be kept for the lifetime of the business.
Providing workers with individual personal radiation dosimeter badges is about more than meeting regulations. It gives both worker and employer peace of mind knowing that radiation exposure is constantly being monitored with a fully accredited dosimeter.
A thermoluminescent dosimeter, or TLD, is a type of radiation dosimeter. A TLD dosimeter measures ionizing radiation exposure by measuring the amount of visible light emitted from a crystal in the detector when the crystal is heated. The amount of light emitted is dependent upon the radiation exposure.
A passive TLD dosimeter absorbs radiation over time and can quantify the absorbed dose when it is processed or “read”.
ALARA in an acronym for “As Low As is Reasonably Achievable”. According to the NRC Regulations Title 10, Code of Federal Regulations, ALARA means making every reasonable effort to maintain exposures to radiation as far below the dose limits in this part as is practical consistent with the purpose for which the licensed activity is undertaken, taking into account the state of technology, the economics of improvements in relation to state of technology, the economics of improvements in relation to benefits to the public health and safety, and other societal and socioeconomic considerations, and in relation to utilization of nuclear energy and licensed materials in the public interest.
All employees who may receive 500 mrem in one year must be badged. In addition, all declared pregnant workers must be monitored.
While the 82 dosimeter that we utilize for gamma, beta, and x-ray radiation exposure does give a neutron signature, we do not report neutron readings from this dosimeter. For neutrons, an 83 badge must be worn.
Neutron dosimeters are only necessary when working with neutron sources, and would not be required when working with nuclear medicine or x-rays.
Moisture or density gauges, containing americium-241, is mixed with beryllium to produce neutrons. It is the thermalization of these neutrons that provides an estimate of moisture or density.
Due to the high kinetic energy of neutrons, this radiation is considered to be the most severe and dangerous type of radiation. It is very important to have the right type of dosimeter when working with neutron radiation.
Dosimetry is an accurate and systematic measurement of the absorbed dose in matter and tissue resulting from exposure to ionizing radiation.
The internal and external dose of ionizing radiation received by workers in the course of employment.
Licensees who use sealed sources must have the source tested periodically for leakage. The wipe of a sealed source must be performed using a leak test kit. The sample must be analyzed for radioactive contamination. The analysis must be performed by a person approved by the NRC or an Agreement State.
Contact RDC customer care for quotes on swipe test kits.
Ionizing radiation can be monitored using film, thermoluminescent TLD dosimeter badges, optically stimulated luminescence OSL dosimeter badges, or electronic devices.
Radiation Detection Company measures radiation exposure using TLD and OSL dosimeters. The badges are read with control values that are subtracted from the personnel badges. An algorithm then selects the correct energy the badge was exposed to in order to apply the appropriate dose.
Ionizing radiation has enough energy to damage the DNA in a cell. Exposure to this type of radiation can be very destructive to living tissue, and can result in mutation, radiation sickness, cancer, and death.
Ionizing radiation is both naturally occurring as well as man-made. The primary source of natural background radiation is radon. Radon is an odorless, colorless, tasteless gas that is the product of the decay of uranium and thorium. Exposure to high concentrations of radon has been linked to lung cancer. Ionizing radiation can also be found naturally in rocks, soil, and in cosmic rays from our solar system.
Man-made forms of ionizing radiation come from medical sources such as diagnostic x-rays and nuclear medicine treatments. It also comes from consumer product sources such as building materials, televisions, smoke detectors, combustible fuels, and tobacco. The nuclear fuel cycle, nuclear weapons testing, and nuclear reactor accidents also cause a level of exposure.
Alpha particles consist of two protons and two neutrons bound together into a particle identical to a helium nucleus. They are a highly ionizing form of particle radiation, and have low penetration depth so they can be blocked with a single sheet of paper. Alpha particles pose a serious threat when ingested, but not when encountered externally.
Beta particles are high-energy, high-speed electrons or positrons. When passing through matter, a beta particle is decelerated by electromagnetic interactions and may give off bremsstrahlung x-rays. Because of this, beta particles are best shielded with low-density materials like acrylic plastic.
Gamma rays are electromagnetic radiation of high frequency and therefore high energy. They have no mass, and no charge. Gamma rays are identical to x-rays, except that an x-ray originates from orbital electron rearrangements, while gamma rays originate from the nucleus of an atom during decay. Gamma and x-rays are best shielded with lead, or other dense materials.
Neutron particles are slightly larger than protons. Due to the high kinetic energy of neutrons, this radiation is considered to be the most severe and dangerous radiation to the whole body when exposed to external radiation sources. Neutrons readily pass through most material, but interact enough to cause biological damage. The most effective shielding materials when dealing with Neutron radiation are water, polyethylene, or paraffin wax.
Ionizing radiation is high-energy radiation capable of producing ionization in substances through which it passes.
It’s free to RDC’s active customers. Your dosimetry account is about keeping your people safe. We’re happy to help you do that.
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MyRadCare is RDC’s online account management software program. It is available free of charge to all active RDC customers. It provides RDC customers a safe and convenient tool to manage their dosimetry account at any time, from any computer with access to the Internet.
With MyRadCare online access customers can:
Radiation safety standards vary widely from state to state. To help you determine the requirements for your practice, we’ve put together this comprehensive guide to help you navigate compliance across all 50 states.
