Re: detecting medical isotopes at airport security

[Carol Marcus <csmarcus@ucla.edu>]

At 12:46 PM 11/21/2003, knwachter@juno.com wrote:



>Does anyone know of incidents where residual medical isotopes in a 

>traveller's body set off radiation monitors at an airport?  A cardiologist 

>mentioned to me that he had heard of Tl-201 a day or two after a cardiac 

>scan tripping alarms at some airports.  Just curious.

>

>knwachter@juno.com



Dear Radsafers:



I know that it has happened in the New York City subways recently and in 

government buildings in Washington, D.C. for years.   I know it has 

happened at the Athens Airport, some years ago.  I don't know if it has 

happened at US airports, but it should!  I understand that the scientists 

manning the DOE TRIAGE Program have gotten very good at spotting the 

spectra of radionuclides used in nuclear medicine.  I really think that 

patients who receive radiopharmaceuticals should be given a card the size 

of a credit card to carry in their wallet for a few weeks, and that the 

card contains all the relevant information and a number to call to 

check.  However, I guess that would now be a HIPAA violation!



Ciao, Carol



Carol S. Marcus, Ph.D., M.D.

<csmarcus@ucla.edu> 



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