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IDEXX Veterinary Radiation Safety Center

Learn how to make your practice safer with reduced radiation exposure.
 

Get the radiation safety toolkit

Why does radiation safety matter?

The smallest amount of radiation exposure can pose a health risk to the whole practice. Veterinary technicians may be particularly at risk, as they typically capture x-ray images. X-rays scatter in all directions, even when an animal is sedated and/or positioning devices are used.1

There are potential side effects of radiation exposure including increased risk of cellular damage that can have health consequences.2

Graphic depicting 3 in 4 veterinary technicians are women of childbearing age

3 in 4 veterinary technicians are women of childbearing age3

Protect your team

Implement exposure precautions and occupational dose limits.

Get the radiation safety toolkit

Lower the dose with ALARA

ALARA stands for "as low as reasonably achievable." This radiation safety principle4 offers simple guidelines for veterinary technicians, including these:
Clock icon.

Minimize the time

Limit time in the x-ray suite and avoid retakes by using a technique chart.

Radiation system icon with "2x" in the middle.

Double the distance

Maintain distance between the body and the radiation source using sedation and sandbags or nonmanual restraints to secure patients.

Radiation shield icon.

Use personal protective equipment

Use absorber materials like lead aprons, gloves, and thyroid shields, as well as permanent barriers.

Get the radiation safety toolkit

Follow Canada's radiation guidelines

Make sure your practice is following Canada's radiation guidelines.

Get Canada guidelines

IDEXX digital imaging solutions suite

Unmatched diagnostic image quality. Low dose of radiation.5

Learn more about how IDEXX diagnostic imaging systems keep veterinary teams safer.

Explore all diagnostic imaging solutions

Safe imaging is optimal imaging. Make radiation safety a priority at your practice.

Three pieces of literature that comes with your free radiation toolkit.

Free radiation safety toolkit 

  • Diagnostic imaging poster
  • Radiation safety article
  • Radiation safety training plan

Learn more about radiation safety with these IDEXX resources

X-ray of animal with icon of a safety shield over it.

Webinar

Improving Patient Care in a Radiation Safety Culture

This presentation reviews various aspects of a radiation safety culture and how veterinary practices can manage these to better protect the health of staff, patients, and the public.

Watch the webinar

Practice Life article on a desktop monitor.

Practice Life article

Radiation Safety: What Practice Managers Need to Know

Ensure your radiation safety program is adequate by checking out these resources and tips.

Read full article

References

  1. Busch HP, Faulkner K. Image quality and dose management in digital radiography: a new paradigm for optimisation. Radiat Prot Dosimetry. 2005;117(1–3):143–147. doi:10.1093/rpd/nci728

  2. Radiation Safety Relating to Veterinary Medicine and Animal Health Technology in California. Sacramento, CA: California Veterinary Medical Board; 2012. www.vmb.ca.gov/forms_pubs/radguide.pdf. Accessed July 27, 2021.

  3. NAVTA 2016 Demographic Survey Results. Schaumburg, IL: National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America; 2016. https://cdn.ymaws.com/www.navta.net/resource/resmgr/docs/2016_demographic_results.pdf. Accessed July 27, 2021.

  4. Do KH. General principles of radiation protection in fields of diagnostic medical exposure. J Korean Med Sci. 2016;31(Suppl 1):S6–S9. doi:10.3346/jkms.2016.31.S1.S6

  5. Data on file at IDEXX Laboratories, Inc. Westbrook, Maine USA. Based upon comparison of IDEXX systems to comparable digital imaging systems currently available in the veterinary market.