The Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Inspection (BSMI) commissioned the National Radiation Standard Laboratory (NRSL) of the Institute of Nuclear Energy Research (INER) under the Atomic Energy Council (AEC) to establish the primary standard in mammography base on the international trend, domestic needs and hospitals’ mammography facilities Specifications. As a result, the primary standard was established in 2004 based on the same standard used by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).

Furthermore, in response to the recent development in international measurement and the globalization of the medical appliances industry, the above-mentioned primary standard was upgraded to meet the standard announced by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) to not only align domestic standards in accordance with international practice but also make the standard more comprehensive and its scope more extensive. Furthermore, the upgraded primary standard has been in agreement with the international standards.

In fact, Taiwanese women aged between 45 and 69 are most likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer. Therefore, the Health Promotion Administration (HPA) under the Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW) offers free mammography examinations once every two years to women aged between 45 and 69 and women aged 40 to 44 with a family history of breast cancer.

To enhance the control of radiation dose and safeguard the public’s health, the AEC also requires hospitals which use mammography facilities should execute the medical exposure quality plan. Meanwhile, calibrations for mammography facilities must be carried out on a regular basis. The facilities used for measuring radiation dose should be calibrated once every two years.

The BSMI said that the NRSL conducts an average of 40 mammography facility radiation dose calibrations every year. The calibrated facilities are then used to evaluate the radiation dose of mammography facilities used in over 200 hospitals recognized by the HPA to ensure the safety of women receiving mammography examinations.

Breast cancer is a disease that jeopardizes health and family wellbeing. Early detection and treatment not only prevents tragedy but also helps decrease the burden of long-term medical costs and lowers the impact on social productivity. The BSMI said that the NRSL’s radiation dose standard system can accurately monitor radiation dose, foster quality radiation diagnosis and thus reduce the fear and risk of mammography recipients.

Agency in charge: Fourth Division
Contact person: Mr. Yueh-Feng Chang
Telephone: (02)2397-1326