5
X-ray Safety and Radiation Hazards
Radiation Theory and X-ray Generation
Biological Effects of Radiation
IVIS Lumina XRMS Series III Safety Systems
Your Laboratory X-ray Safety Procedures
5.1 Introduction
Cabinet X-ray System
The IVIS
®
Lumina XRMS Series III produces X-rays when and only when the X-ray function has
been energized and initiated. The instrument may also be operated in standard bioluminescence or
fluorescence mode without X-ray generation. The IVIS Lumina XRMS Series III is defined by most
regulatory agencies as a "Cabinet X-Ray System." A cabinet system is one that produces little or no
X-ray exposure to the user and is safe to operate with the user in close proximity. This radiation is
confined to the interior of the imaging chamber. PerkinElmer certifies the IVIS Lumina XRMS Series
III to produce not more than 0.5 millirem per hour at a distance of 5 cm from the instrument surface.
In addition, the instrument is certified to meet all international exposure requirements (typically, 0.1
millirem per hour at 10 cm) and other regulations for where it is sold. The IVIS Lumina XRMS Series
III meets all US (FDA) regulations regarding a cabinet X-ray system. For information on
international limits for X-ray doses see
later in this section.
Other Product Documentation
Users will receive pre-installation information to help prepare the laboratory for installation of the
IVIS Lumina XRMS Series III. Included with this package of material is a document called 126198:
Safe Operating and Emergency Procedures for the operation of the IVIS Lumina XRMS Cabinet X-
ray System. This document includes a list of US and Canadian contacts for Radiation Protection.
Those contacts have been repeated in this manual for your convenience.
Only individuals who have been trained to operate the equipment should be permitted to use it. In
some locations, government regulations may require that the user have radiation training and be
certified.
5.2 Radiation Theory and X-ray Generation
Types of Radiation: Ionizing and Non-ionizing
Radiation is everywhere. Our bodies are continuously bathed in radiation in the form of sunlight,
radio and television waves as well as radiation produced by the earth's natural background radiation
produced by radioactivity and cosmic rays. Radiation is distinguished by its ability to ionize chemical
bonds, and is characterized as either ionizing or non-ionizing. Ionizing radiation has the ability to
affect biological organisms including human beings by interacting with the cellular chemistry.
Radiation such as sunlight, is usually considered non-ionizing radiation, although there is some
