Which RAM source information should be documented?

• A. Source strength, isotope, and serial number
• B. The color of the gas cylinder
• C. The storage location
• D. The vendor price

Answer: (A)

Documenting RAM requires information that uniquely identifies the source and quantifies its radiation. The most essential pieces are the source strength (the activity at a reference time), the isotope (the specific radionuclide present), and the serial number (a unique identifier tying the source to its history, calibration, and inventory). Together, these details let you know exactly what you have, how much activity it has now (with decay corrections if needed), and trace its lineage from procurement through maintenance and use. This supports proper shielding and exposure assessments, regulatory reporting, and accountability.

The color of a gas cylinder isn’t a reliable identifier, storage location is helpful for finding the item but doesn’t specify what the source actually is, and vendor price has no relevance to safety, identification, or regulatory control of the source.