How should brachytherapy sources always be handled?

Brachytherapy sources are radioactive materials used in cancer treatment, and their handling requires precise techniques to ensure safety for both the healthcare providers and the patients. Handling these sources with tongs is crucial because it minimizes the risk of direct contact with the radioactive material, significantly reducing the potential for radiation exposure. Tongs provide a safe distance between the person handling the source and the radioactive material, ensuring that the user can maintain control while minimizing the radiation dose to themselves.

Using gloves alone may offer some level of protection, but they do not provide the same degree of distancing and safety as tongs. Hand-picking the sources can lead to accidental exposure and is not advisable due to safety protocols. Lead aprons are effective for shielding against radiation but are meant to protect against scatter radiation or sources that could be near the body, rather than direct handling of the radioactive material. Therefore, tongs are the standard and safest method for the handling of brachytherapy sources.