Radiation safety licensing
AERB Approval and Your — PET-CT Centre
Before you book a PET-CT scan, there is one government credential you can check yourself in a few minutes — and it tells you more about a centre's safety standards than its price does.
Medically reviewed by Dr. T. Raghavender Reddy, Medical Oncologist, MBBS · DM (Medical Oncology) · MD (Radiation Oncology) · Last reviewed September 2026
- Searchable by anyone — AERB's public portal lets you look up any centre's licence status before you book.
- A legal requirement, not a quality badge — No PET-CT centre in India can legally operate without current AERB approval.
- Covers equipment and people — The licence covers the scanner, the radioactive tracer, and the staff who handle both.
- It can expire — A centre that was licensed last year may not be licensed today. Check the current status, not just whether a certificate exists.
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AERB — the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board — is the Indian government body that licenses every facility allowed to use radiation-producing equipment, including PET-CT scanners. You can check any centre's licence status directly on the AERB website in a few minutes, before you book.
CION does PET-CT in Hyderabad from Rs 10,499 — among the lowest published prices in the city, with no hidden charges. Indicative price, as of September 2026.
What is the difference between an AERB-approved PET-CT centre and one without current approval?
| What is checked | AERB-approved centre | Centre without current approval |
|---|---|---|
| Equipment calibration | Required — verified by AERB inspection | No independent check required |
| Radiation dose limits | Mandatory ceiling set by AERB | No regulated ceiling applies |
| Radiopharmaceutical handling | Licensed and audited procedure | No regulatory oversight |
| Radiation safety officer | Qualified officer required on site | Not legally required |
| Staff radiation training | Mandated by AERB before operation | No mandated standard |
| Patient exposure records | Legally required to be kept | Not mandated by law |
| How to confirm | Searchable at aerb.gov.in | Not publicly verifiable |
How do you check if a PET-CT centre has AERB approval?
- Go to aerb.gov.in — this is the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board's official website.
- Use the licence search or facility directory to look up the centre by name or city.
- Check that the licence type covers a PET or PET-CT scanner, not just an X-ray or CT unit.
- Check that the licence is current — look at the expiry date, not just that one exists.
- Ask the centre reception to show you the AERB certificate displayed on their premises.
- Note the licence number. If you have any doubt about a specific facility, this number can be quoted to AERB directly.
PET-CT Partner Centres
PET-CT Scan Centres in Hyderabad
CION offers PET-CT scans through 4 trusted partner PET-CT centres across Hyderabad, so you can choose the one closest to you. Call 18002028726 and we’ll guide you to the earliest available appointment.
PET-CT Centre — Punjagutta
PET-CT Centre — Himayatnagar
PET-CT Centre — Narayanaguda
These are partner diagnostic centres within the CION network. Toll-free booking: 18002028726.
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What does AERB actually regulate at a PET-CT centre?
AERB operates under the Atomic Energy Act and is the only authority in India that can licence a facility to use radiation-generating equipment. For a PET-CT centre, that covers three things: the scanner itself, the radioactive tracer injected before the scan, and the staff who operate both.
A PET scan uses a short-lived radioactive tracer — most commonly a form of glucose marked with fluorine-18 — to show metabolic activity in your body. Handling and administering this tracer is a regulated procedure. An approved centre has demonstrated to the regulator that it can do this safely.
AERB also requires that a qualified radiation safety officer is present, that staff have completed radiation protection training, and that patient exposure records are kept. These are not internal policies — they are legal conditions of the licence.
Does AERB approval affect how accurate your scan results will be?
Yes, indirectly. A scanner that is not regularly calibrated can produce images where the tracer uptake readings are off. Your oncologist uses those readings to judge how active a tumour is or whether it has responded to treatment. A calibration error in the scan can become an error in that judgement.
AERB's inspection requirements do not guarantee a perfect scan — scan quality also depends on the radiologist reading it and the protocols the centre follows. But approval establishes a verified floor: the equipment has been checked, the doses are within regulated limits, and an independent authority has confirmed it.
A centre that cannot show current AERB approval has no verified floor. That is the practical difference.
Did you know?
Under the Atomic Energy Act, operating a PET scanner without AERB approval is not a regulatory grey area — it is unlawful. AERB can seal equipment, suspend operations and refer violations for prosecution.
Approval must be renewed periodically, which is why checking the current expiry date matters more than asking whether a centre was ever licensed.
Source: Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB), Government of India
CION does PET-CT in Hyderabad from Rs 10,499 — among the lowest published prices in the city — including an oncologist-reviewed report and a free Rs 950 consultation. Indicative price, as of September 2026.
Explore 88 more Understanding PET-CT, Cost, Booking & Records topics
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Common questions
Frequently asked questions
What does AERB stand for and who runs it?
AERB stands for the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board. It is an independent statutory body set up by the Government of India under the Atomic Energy Act of 1962. Its role is to ensure that nuclear and radiation technologies are used safely across India — including in hospitals and diagnostic imaging centres. It is not a hospital accreditation body. It is a regulatory authority with the power to licence, inspect, suspend and close facilities.
Is it legal to have a scan at a centre that does not have AERB approval?
Operating a PET-CT scanner without a current AERB licence is unlawful under the Atomic Energy Act. For you as a patient, an unlicensed centre means there is no independent verification that the equipment is calibrated or that radiation doses are within safe limits. There is also no regulatory record of your exposure. The licence check takes a few minutes at aerb.gov.in and is worth doing before you confirm any booking.
How do I find a specific centre's AERB licence number?
Go to aerb.gov.in and use the facility or licence search. You can search by the centre's name or city. The result will show the licence number, the scope it covers, and the expiry date. If you have difficulty finding a listing, ask the centre's reception — they are legally required to display the AERB certificate on their premises and should be able to give you the number immediately.
Can an AERB licence expire without the centre telling patients?
Yes, this can happen. Licences have a fixed term and must be renewed before they expire. In practice, some centres allow licences to lapse and continue operating. This is the reason to check the expiry date on the AERB portal rather than simply asking whether the centre has ever been approved. A certificate in a frame on the wall may be out of date. The aerb.gov.in portal shows live status, which is more reliable than a printed document.
Does the AERB licence cover the radioactive tracer as well as the scanner?
Yes. The licence covers both the PET scanner and the use of radioactive tracers — such as the F-18 FDG used in most oncology PET scans. Handling, storing and administering a radiopharmaceutical is itself a regulated activity. An approved centre has demonstrated to AERB that it has the procedures and trained personnel to do this safely. A centre operating without approval has no verified standard for either.
Do the partner centres that CION uses for PET-CT have AERB approval?
Yes. CION coordinates PET-CT imaging through partner imaging centres, and those facilities hold current AERB approval. CION does not own or operate PET-CT scanners directly — the scans are performed at partner centres. If you would like to confirm the licence status of a specific centre before your appointment, you can do so at aerb.gov.in. Your CION care team can also tell you which partner centre your scan is being arranged through.