Significance of dosimetry in ensuring accuracy and quality during radiotherapy application/significance of dosimetry in ensuring accuracy and quality for medical application

The application of X-ray, CT, mammography and radiotherapy in areas of medicine has witnessed significant technological developments in order to enhance patient care. However, while these developments have undoubtedly conferred benefits to a large number of patients, they have also raised concerns for the quality and safety of practices because the use of ionising radiation. Therefore, there is a need to access the impact of these technical developments through measurement with the use of appropriate and internationally recognized dosimetry protocols and standards. The Kenya Bureau of Standards in collaboration with the International Atomic Energy Agency established a Secondary Standards Dosimetry Laboratory in 2008. The SSDL is the custodian of the National measurement Standards in the field of ionizing radiation and provides calibrations in terms of Air Kerma, Personnel Equivalent Dose and Ambient Dose Equivalent at diagnostic and radiation protection levels. The main tasks of the SSDL are to: Realise and maintain the national measurement standards; Provide measurement traceability to the International System of Units (SI) and bridge the gap between the Primary Standards Dosimetry Laboratory and the users of the ionizing radiation measurements; Provide calibrations to end users of equipment on ionizing radiation measurements. (author)