http://doi.org/10.17576/jsm-2025-5404-14

Fabricated Germanium-Doped Silica Optical Fibres: A Novel Dose Meter for Clinical Blood Irradiation

(Gentian Optik Silika Terdop Germanium: Suatu Meter Dos Baharu untuk Penyinaran Darah Klinikal)

KU SHAIDATON AKMAR KU BAKAR¹, NORAMALIZA MOHD NOOR^1,2,* & FARIDAH ISMAIL³

¹Medical Physics Laboratory, Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
²Medical Physics Unit, Teaching Hospital Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
³Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia

Diserahkan: 9 September 2024/ Diterima: 16 Disember 2024

Abstract

TA-GVH disease represents a potential adverse effect associated with blood transfusions, highlighting the importance of irradiating blood components within defined limits to effectively mitigate this risk. The recommended irradiation doses range from 25 to 50 Gy, with a peripheral threshold established at 15 Gy. This study explores the feasibility of using fabricated germanium-doped (Ge-doped) silica-based optical fibres as dose indicators during clinical blood transfusions. Two types of 2.3 mol% Ge-doped optical fibres were tested: cylindrical (CF) and flat (FF). Calibration was performed using a Cobalt-60 gamma-ray machine across a dose range of 5 to 50 Gy. Clinical trials were conducted using a Cesium-137 source blood irradiator. A central dose of 25 Gy was delivered to real adult blood bags, which were exposed to gamma rays for 9 min and 56 s. Thermoluminescence (TL) signals from the fibres were measured with a HarshawTM 3500 TLD reader, and compared with EBT-XD film and conventional dose indicator stickers. The study found no statistically significant difference among dosimeters, with a p-value of 0.285 (p > 0.05, 95% Confidence Level) for the 25 Gy dose. Mean errors were 3.4% for CF and 4.3% for FF when compared to EBT-XD film. These results indicate that Ge-doped optical fibres offer precise, quantitative measurements of blood irradiation doses, unlike conventional dose stickers which provide only qualitative visual indicators. This innovative dosimetry approach shows significant potential as a cost-effective, reusable, and highly sensitive alternative for clinical blood irradiation.

Keywords: Blood irradiation dosimetry; dose indicator; fabricated germanium-doped optical fibres; thermoluminescence

Abstrak

Penyakit TA-GVH merupakan kesan sampingan berpotensi berkaitan dengan pemindahan darah, menekankan kepentingan untuk penyinaran komponen darah dalam had tertentu bagi mengurangkan risiko ini dengan berkesan. Dos penyinaran yang disyorkan adalah antara 25 hingga 50 Gy dengan ambang periferal ditetapkan pada 15 Gy. Kajian ini meneroka kemungkinan penggunaan gentian optik berasaskan silika yang digentikan germanium (terdop Ge) sebagai penunjuk dos semasa pemindahan darah klinikal. Dua jenis gentian optik 2.3 mol% terdop Ge telah diuji: silinder (CF) dan rata (FF). Kalibrasi dilakukan menggunakan mesin sinar gamma Cobalt-60 dalam julat dos dari 5 hingga 50 Gy. Ujian klinikal dijalankan menggunakan peranti penyinaran darah sumber Cesium-137. Dos pusat sebanyak 25 Gy diberikan kepada beg darah dewasa sebenar yang terdedah kepada sinar gamma selama 9 minit dan 56 saat. Isyarat termoluminesens (TL) daripada gentian diukur dengan pembaca HarshawTM 3500 TLD dan dibandingkan dengan filem EBT-XD dan pelekat penunjuk dos konvensional. Kajian mendapati tiada perbezaan yang signifikan secara statistik antara penunjuk dos dengan nilai p 0.285 (p > 0.05, Tahap Keyakinan 95%) untuk dos 25 Gy. Ralat purata adalah 3.4% untuk CF dan 4.3% untuk FF berbanding filem EBT-XD. Hasil ini menunjukkan bahawa gentian optik terdop Ge menyediakan pengukuran dos yang tepat dan kuantitatif untuk penyinaran darah berbanding dengan pelekat dos konvensional yang hanya memberikan penunjuk visual kualitatif. Pendekatan dosimetri inovatif ini menunjukkan potensi yang signifikan sebagai alternatif kos-berkesan, boleh digunakan semula dan sangat sensitif untuk penggunaan klinikal dalam penyinaran darah.

Kata kunci: Dosimetri penyinaran darah; gentian optik terdop germanium; penunjuk dos; termoluminesens

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*Pengarang untuk surat-menyurat; email:noramaliza@upm.edu.my