SOP101: MRI Access

  1. Summary

    To establish policies that govern physical access to the research MRI suites at the BIAC, and to define categories of access depending upon need and level of training.

  2. Scope

    These policies apply to all individuals who desire entry into the research MRI suites.

  3. Definitions

    • Electronic Lock - All doors in the BIAC MRI suites are controlled by electronic locks. A single electronic key card is used for entry. The electronic lock system recognizes the owner's key card, logs the time of the attempted entry, and unlocks the door if the owner has been granted access.

    • Console Room - The main room of the MRI suite that contains the computer displays and keyboards that control the MRI scanner. The console room is accessed from the main hallway through a doorway that is controlled by an electronic lock.

    • Magnet Room - The room within the MRI suite that contains the MRI scanner. It is accessed from within the console room through a doorway that is controlled by an electronic lock.

    • Equipment Room - The room within the MRI suite that contains the computers, radio frequency amplifiers, power supplies, and other equipment that controls the MRI scanner.

    • Subject - An individual who is participating in an experimental protocol at BIAC and has not taken the BIAC safety course.

    • Visitor - An individual who has not taken the BIAC safety course, but who has a legitimate reason for entering the MRI suites. Visitors may include students or faculty on a BIAC tour, sales representatives for MRI equipment, or assistants helping with experimental protocols.

  4. Policies and Procedures

    Overview

    The BIAC incorporates two research MRI suites in Duke North adjacent to the clinical MRI wing. Access to both BIAC and the clinical MRI wing is through a reception doorway controlled by an Electronic Lock. A reception desk is located adjacent to the door, and is staffed Monday-Friday from 8:00 AM until 5:00 PM. Signs posted at this entranceway warn against unauthorized access and of the presence of strong magnet fields. Each of the two research MRI suites consist of three rooms: Console Room, Magnet Room, and Equipment Room. We specify seven levels of access below, and specify the supervision and training required for each access level.

    1. Levels of access

      1. Subjects for research studies and Visitors: Subjects and Visitors the BIAC must be accompanied by individuals who have BIAC Level 2 access or higher at all times and cannot be left alone in MRI suite. Research Subjects and Visitors should be met at the reception desk and guided to the research MRI suite (see SOP107: Running Subjects).

      2. Trained medical personnel and on-site field engineers: Physicians, nurses, and MRI technologists who are employed by the Department of Radiology, and who have access privileges to the clinical MRI systems, are granted full access to the research MRI scanners. Thus, in an emergency, trained personnel could enter the research MRI suites using the same electronic key cards they use to enter the MRI wing. GE field engineers who are on-site at Duke and maintain both the clinical and research MRI systems also have full access to the research MRI suites.

      3. Level 1 access: Individuals who have completed Level 1 BIAC safety training and who have a safety screening form on file in the BIAC office.

        Level 1 individuals are authorized for the following:

        Level 1 individuals are prohibited from the following:

        Example Level 1 individuals:

        • May enter Console Room with supervision.

        • May operate the experimental control PC during study.

        • May escort a Subject between reception and the MRI suite.

        • May move data from MRI system when no Subject is being run.

        • May not enter the magnet room.

        • May not operate the MRI console to acquire data.

        • May not be issued a key card to enter the MRI wing.

        • Undergraduate research assistants

      4. Level 2 access: Individuals who have completed Level 2 BIAC safety training and who have a safety screening form on file in the BIAC office.

        Level 2 individuals have all Level 1 authorizations and the following:

        Level 2 individuals are prohibited from the following:

        Example Level 2 individuals:

        • May enter Console Room without supervision.

        • May receive a key card to enter the Console Room.

        • May enter the Magnet Room with supervision.

        • May not operate the MRI console to acquire data.

        • May not setup or remove Subjects from the scanner.

        • May not be left alone with a Subject in the scanner.

        • Most graduate students and post-docs who assist faculty who do not have primary BIAC appointments.

        • Undergraduates who are conducting independent study under supervision of primary BIAC faculty.

      5. Level 3 access: Individuals who have have completed Level 3 BIAC safety training and are enrolled in the BIAC MRI Operator training program.

        Level 3 individuals have all Level 2 authorizations and the following:

        Level 3 individuals are prohibited from the following:

        Example Level 3 individuals:

        • May enter Magnet Room without supervision.

        • Must be issued a key card for Magnet Room access.

        • May setup Subject in the scanner with supervision.

        • May operate the MRI console to acquire data under supervision.

        • May remove the Subject from the MRI scanner.

        • May operate the scanner without supervision for phantom studies.

        • May not operate the scanner without supervision for human studies.

        • Faculty, post-docs, and research assistants who have been approved by the BIAC director for training as a MRI operator.

      6. Level 4 access: Individuals who have have completed Level 3 BIAC safety training, have been enrolled in the BIAC MRI Operator training program for at least three months, and have passed the practical MRI competency exam.

        Level 4 individuals have all Level 3 authorizations and the following:

        • May operate the scanner without direct supervision as long as a fully qualified (Level 5) MRI operator is on-site at Duke and available to the Level 4 operator.

      7. Level 5 access (full qualification): Individuals who have completed Level 3 BIAC safety training, have been enrolled in the BIAC MRI Operator training program for at least six months, and have passed all competency exams in the training program.

        Level 5 individuals have all Level 4 authorizations and the following:

        Level 5 access is given to the following faculty of the BIAC and the instructors of the BIAC training program: Drs. Song, Voyvodic and Petrella.

        • May operate the scanner without supervision.

SOP