Radioisotope Use Authorization (RUA) Overview

Learn about eligibility requirements, recharge rates, and when to amend, renew, and deactivate the Radioisotope Use Authorization.

Principal investigators (PI) must obtain a Radioisotope Use Authorization (RUA) to possess and use radioactive materials for research.

The RUA is an agreement between a PI and UCSD specifying how and where radioactive materials will be used. Keep a copy of the RUA available for inspectors in the main radioactive materials use area.

To be eligible for an RUA, the PI must:

• Be a faculty member
• Have an independent space assignment
• Have independent funding
• Attend the Radiation: Safety Seminar or equivalent

See How to Open, Amend, Renew, and Deactivate a Radioisotope Use Authorization (RUA) for application procedures.

• Amend the RUA when any of the following critical elements change:
  • Project summary
  • Isotopes
  • Lab manager or personnel
  • Work locations
  • Human or animal protocols
• Renew the RUA 1 year after initial approval, and annually every year thereafter. Environment, Health & Safety (EH&S) will notify the PI when it's time for renewal.
• Deactivate the RUA when the PI is retiring, leaving UCSD, or no longer possesses radioactive materials.

Recharge rates

A recharge, depending on laboratory classification as specified in your RUA, is required to help defray costs associated with maintaining UCSD's State of California radioactive materials use license. The following rates apply:

• Low-use lab – $65 monthly
• High-use lab – $195 monthly
• Sealed source lab – $65 monthly
• Sealed source labs authorized to posses 1 and only 1 generally licensed device may be exempted from the monthly recharge at the discretion of the Radiation Safety Officer

Notice: Refer to the Radiation Safety Manual (PDF) (Word file) for a detailed description of UCSD's radiation safety program.

Safety

Radiation

• Resources
• Calibrate or Repair Survey Meters
• Cleaning Up Minor Contamination
• Contamination Survey Overview
• Exposure Monitoring
• Forms
• Health Physicist Contacts
• Loaner Survey Meters
• Performing Contamination Surveys
• Radioisotope Package Delivery Service
• Registering Radiation Producing Machines
• Radioisotope Use Authorization
  • RUA Application and Management
• Security
• Transferring Radioactive Materials
• Radiation Exposure Risk Statements