Mapping absorbed dose distribution in containers of blood and blood components using radiochromic dosimeters irradiated in an industrial irradiator

Abstract

Investigating the irradiation of blood and blood components is pivotal for guaranteeing the safety and efficacy of blood products employed in medical interventions, such as blood transfusions and hematopoietic cell transplants. Irradiation is commonly used to mitigate the risk of graft-versus-host reactions and eradicate pathogens present in blood components, thereby shielding recipients from blood-borne infections. In the Gamma Irradiation Laboratory of the CDTN, the absorbed dose defined to meet the standards is 25 Gy. The primary objective of this study was to map the distribution of absorbed doses in containers housing bags of blood and blood components to provide a comprehensive assessment of radiation distribution within these packages and to explore the uniformity of irradiation and identify potential variations in the absorbed doses across different regions of blood and blood component containers. To achieve this objective, prior understanding of the absorbed dose distribution in the irradiation chamber was essential. The findings regarding the absorbed dose distribution in the irradiation chamber indicate that beyond a distance of 30 cm, the radiation field can be considered approximately aligned and expanded. The analysis of the blood and blood component containers revealed variations within the limits recommended by the standards for most containers, whereas one container exhibited some points exceeding the established regulatory limits. These disparities underscore the necessity of optimizing irradiation procedures to ensure a uniform and safe distribution of absorbed doses throughout the contents of the containers.