Radiopharmacy

Question 1

What are the principles of nuclear medicine?

Answer 1

Used for functional purposes as opposed to anatomical
Use pharmaceuticals with radioactive labels in small quantities to prevent interference
Used mainly for diagnostic and research purposes

Question 2

What is the most common base for diagnostic radiopharmaceuticals?

Answer 2

Technetium

Tc-99m

Question 3

How are images acquired?

Answer 3

Using a gamma radiation camera

Question 4

What are the ideal properties of a radioactive label?

Answer 4

Pure gamma-emmitter
No particulate emissions
Readily available, cheap production
No unwanted effects
Diverse chemistry allowing attachment to numerous pharmaceuticals

Question 5

What occurs in a radiopharmaceutical generator?

Answer 5

99MoO4(2-) is adsorbed onto alumina
This decays to Tc-99m
Partechnetate anion in acidic solution is absorbed by sites on alumina and displaced by added electrolytes

Question 6

What are the two possible sets of aseptic conditions for radiopharmacy units?

Answer 6

1- laminar flow cabinet at grade A with a grade B clean room

2- Isolator glove box with negative pressure at grade A in a grade D clean room

Question 7

How is radio labelling achieved?

Answer 7

TcO4(-) must be lowered from +7 oxidation state

The reduced species is highly reactive so a chelating agent is added

Question 8

What are the conditions of a manufacturer’s license for a radio pharmacy unit?

Answer 8

Specials license required

Two people named on the license, one in charge of production and the other of quality control

Question 9

Under what circumstances is a manufacturer’s license not necessary?

Answer 9

Supervision by suitably trained pharmacist allows operation under section 10 exemptions of the Medicines Act