GAMMA AND BETA DIFFERENCES

Beta is given at a high dose rate. Each box can therefore be treated individually and a sterilisation dose can be given within a few seconds. Therefore goods can be treated batch-wise, one box after another. In gamma deep penetration is traded for a low dose rate. Depending on the amount of cobalt loaded it may take several hours or even days to accumulate a high dose. A box-by-box treatment is therefore not feasible. All goods are loaded simultaneously on a hanging or standing conveyor that transports the goods towards the radioactive source. Beta treatment can be carried out while the customer is waiting. This is not the case for gamma. The production schedule and the Quality Assurance manuals are adjusted to these different circumstances.