Brief overwiev of individually prepared radiopharmaceuticals in laboratory on KNME FN Motol Prague

Overview

Introduction:
Nowadays, about dozen radiopharmaceuticals labeled with technetium (^99mTc) and only one radiopharmaceutical OctreoScan labeled with ¹¹¹In are prepared for diagnostic investigation. Every individual kit for radiopharmaceutical preparation has very strict storage conditions either in a refrigerator (2-8 °C) or room temperature (between 15-25 °C). The following preparation of particular radiopharmaceuticals proceeds differently. Main dissimilarities are in the added activity of ^99mTc, the period of incubation, a necessity of boiling or heating, time and the system of cooling, the adjustment of final volume, checking of radiochemical purity and measuring of total activity.

Methods and controls:
From Monday to Wednesday, there is possibility to prepare radiopharmaceuticals with greater demand on activity, e.g. ^99mTc-8-MDP (Monday, Tuesday) and ^99mTc-CARDIO-SPECT (Wednesday). Some preparations of radiopharmaceuticals with requested smaller activity are performed in the rest of the week. Quality controls are performed with paper chromatography or thin layer chromatography, liquid extractions are applied only for two methods.

Conclusion:
Only qualified, trained and skilled persons can prepare so special medication as the radiopharmaceuticals are. They have to follow all rules in the preparation of aseptic drugs in connection with radiation protection, the operation has to be quick but very precise.

Key Words:
activity, radiopharmaceuticals, quality control, chromatography, radiation protection