IDEXX Veterinary Radiation Safety Center
Learn how to make your practice safer with reduced radiation exposure.
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 still scatter in all directions, even when an animal is sedated and/or positioning devices are used.1
The result of radiation exposure can cause an increased risk of cancer as well as genetic damage to reproductive cells.2
3 in 4 veterinary technicians are women of childbearing age3
Protect your team
Implement exposure precautions and occupational dose limits.
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:
Minimize the time
Limit time in the x-ray suite and avoid retakes by using a technique chart.
Double the distance
Maintain distance between the body and the radiation source using sedation and sandbags or nonmanual restraints to secure patients.
Use personal protective equipment
Use absorber materials like lead aprons, gloves, and thyroid shields, as well as permanent barriers.
Follow Canada's radiation guidelines
Make sure your practice is following Canada's radiation guidelines.
Safe imaging is optimal imaging. Make radiation safety a priority at your practice.
Free radiation safety toolkit
- Diagnostic imaging poster
- Radiation safety article
- Radiation safety training plan
Choose the lowest-dose digital imaging
The ImageVue DR50 Digital Imaging System enables the lowest-dose image capture without sacrificing optimal diagnostic image quality.5
Learn more about radiation safety with these IDEXX resources
Webinar
Lower the Dose: Radiation Safety Is Your Safety
This webinar focuses on radiation biology, the ALARA principle, and other resources for radiation safety to make sure the entire care team is safe when imaging.
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.
References
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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
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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 January 6, 2020.
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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 January 6, 2020.
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Do KH. General principles of radiation protection in fields of diagnostic medical exposure. J Korean Med Sci. 2016; 31: S6-9. doi:10.3346/jkms.2016.31.S1.S6
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Bailey MQ, Houde TA, Kutasi D, Worrall J. Achieve Radiation Dose Optimization with the ImageVue DR50 Digital Imaging System. Westbrook, ME: IDEXX Laboratories Inc; 2019.