What is the purpose of the control film badge in a safety program?

• A. To monitor patient exposure
• B. To monitor staff exposure during the day
• C. To monitor background exposure when not irradiated
• D. To record machine settings

Answer: (C)

In a safety program, a control film badge serves as a baseline monitor for ambient background radiation and any processing-related fog. It isn’t exposed to X-rays during normal use and is processed alongside the other badges, so it reveals the level of background exposure or artifacts present in the environment. By comparing its reading with the badges worn by personnel, you can separate actual occupational exposure from background noise. It also helps identify issues in the processing workflow, such as fogging or leaks, that could falsely inflate readings. This purpose is distinct from monitoring patient exposure or recording machine settings, which are handled by other parts of the QA and dosimetry system.