Unique Features

UNIQUE FEATURES OF RADTRIAGETM

RADTriage has the following unique and/or special features:

  • SENSORS: RADTriage has two sensors to monitor radiation exposure, each developing color in proportion to the dose. The WARNING Sensor turns blue and monitors lower doses of radiation (2 to 50 rads) which may not require medical treatment. The CASUALTY Sensor turns purple and monitors higher doses (50 to 1,000 rads) which may require prompt medical treatment. Together, these sensors will help first responders in triaging potential victims.
  • High operating temperature: The maximum operating temperature for RADTriage is 90oC/194oF for six hours. Under direct sunlight, the temperature inside of a truck could exceed 55oC/130oF during shipping and 80oC/176oF near the dashboard of a car. Hence, during shipment and normal use, SIRAD family of dosimeters will be essentially unaffected. If the temperature exceeds 90oC, it will be indicated by the FIT indicator.
  • Black protective cover: In order to protect from UV/sunlight RADTriage has a black/opaque protective cover which lifts from one side for easy viewing .
  • Dead opaque back: The back of the RADTriage is 100% opaque so there will be no UV/exposure from the back.
  • Low glare top film: The top film of the RADTriage is clear and low glare for estimation of dose at any angle and more reliability.
  • FIT indicator: For monitoring
    • (1) Shelf life and expiration of shelf life: The shelf life of diacetylene based dosimeters such as RADTriage decreases if used at higher temperatures (e.g., to about six months if used at 35oC/95oC) and to about three months if used continuously at 45oC/113oF. A color reference bar is provided for estimation of expiration of shelf life.
    • (2) Stockpilable: RADTriage gives governments, large organizations and nuclear power plants the option to stockpile radiation dosimeters for use in an emergency. RADTriage (printed without an expiration date) can be stored at a low temperature (e.g., -20oC) for about ten years and can be distributed when needed. The FIT indicator becomes active and starts monitoring shelf life once brought to room temperature.
    • (3) UV exposure: The radiation sensitive formulations we have selected for RADTriage have low sensitivity to UV light and we have added UV absorbers to minimize sensitivity even more. The films used to make the sensors and the top clear film are UV absorbing. Additionally, we have provided a black protective cover to protect from UV light. Hence, you can take hundreds of readings under direct sunlight. However, the sensors could inadvertently (perhaps intentionally) be exposed to UV light, possibly leading to a false positive. Even if this occurs, the FIT Indicator will monitor the UV exposure. A color reference bar (adjacent to the FIT Indicator) is provided to determine the level of UV exposure.
    • (4) Inactivation or change in reactivity: Diacetylene based sensors (e.g., RADTriage) could undergo a significant change in sensitivity to radiation and/or shelf-life if heated above the melting point of the diacetylene. The sensors will not monitor radiation above their melting points (e.g., above 90oC/194oF for RADTriage). If heated above its melting point and cooled to room temperature, depending upon the rate of cooling, the sensors could (1) remain insensitive to radiation or (2) could have different radiation sensitivity and shelf life. Under these conditions, the sensors could provide false positive or negative readings and/or lower shelf-life - thereby making estimation of dose and shelf life potentially meaningless and creating a variety of problems for vendors, issuing organizations and/or users. Under direct sunlight, the temperature inside of a truck could exceed 55oC/130oF during shipping and 80oC/176oF near the dashboard of a car. Hence, one needs to make sure that diacetylene based dosimeters are not exposed to high temperatures (90oC/194oF for RADTriage) during shipment and normal use. It is less likely that during normal use temperatures would exceed 90oC. However, under abnormal use (e.g., high temperature laundry cycle) or special use (e.g., during fire fighting), if SIRAD is exposed to temperature above 90oC, the central dot of FIT indicator will indicate so, i.e., change from blue-to-red.
    • (5) Peace of mind: We have added the revolutionary, all-in-one sensor, the FIT INDICATOR, which simultaneously monitors false positives & negatives, overexposure to heat & UV/sunlight, and shelf–life for reliable monitoring of radiation exposure. This simple-to-use dosimeter gives you PEACE OF MIND that you are reliably monitoring your radiation exposure.
  • User/agency/medical personnel accessible scratch off bar: Though the FIT indicator of RADTriage can monitor UV exposure, someone can cover the FIT indicator with an opaque film and expose the sensors to UV/sunlight. If so, the sensors could indicate a false positive. However, such tampering can be detected by scratching off the user-accessible black scratch-off bars. The area of the sensor under the scratch-off bar will be lighter than the rest of the sensor.
  • Inaccessible black bars: Under the user accessible scratch-off bars, RADTriage has half sized black bars over the sensors which are only accessible by cutting the card or by peeling off the top clear film (which is very difficult to do and if accomplished, would be evident). In the case of a genuine dispute, the card may be cut or the top film peeled off for determination of genuine exposure or tampering.
  • Instant determination: RADTriage lets users instantly determine dose and false positives and negatives. Hence, there is no need to return the dosimeter to us for such determinations. RADTriage makes users independent and puts control for reliable monitoring of radiation exposure in their hands.
  • Other internal indicators: RADTriage has some other internal indicators and methods which can determine false positives, false negatives and dose with analytical techniques/instruments. 
  • Negligible effect of temperature of radiation: For a given dose, the color of the sensors of RADTriage are essentially independent of radiation temperature between -20oC and +60oC.
  • Negligible post radiation effect: Almost 95% of the color development of the WARNING and CASUALTY sensors occurs within minutes and a few hours, respectively.
  • Tamper resistant and evident: RADTriage is made by a special process and if tampered with, it becomes evident.
  • Archiving capability: RADTriage is archivable. Whether exposed or unexposed, RADTriage become essentially inactive to radiation if heated above 120oC and cooled rapidly to room temperature.