Dose mapping is a test performed when evaluating products for irradiation processing to determine the distribution of dose within the product. Physical dose mapping involves placing dosimeters at discrete locations throughout the product load and measuring the dose to the dosimeters following irradiation of the candidate product. Virtual dose mapping is performed via mathematical modeling of the dose distribution based on a digital representation of the product, radiation source, and treatment parameters.

Virtual dose mapping of a product is performed without physical dosimeters or directly sampling certain factors present during physical dose mapping related to the radiation source, conveyance, and product configuration. This leads to differences in the uncertainty of absorbed dose determined by physical and virtual dose mapping that could be considered when deciding between physical or virtual dose mapping for a candidate product as the dose distribution within certain product or load features could be evaluated with lower uncertainty using one method or the other.

This presentation will discuss differences in the components of uncertainty for physical and virtual dose mapping and the resulting effect on product and load features that are likely to be more accurately evaluated using either method. Manufacturers and irradiators might use the information to avoid overestimating or underestimating the range of absorbed dose observed within a product.