Re: Dinged for storing radio

["Mike Bohan" <mike.bohan@yale.edu>]

        Reply to:   RE>Dinged for storing radioiodine urine samples

Vince,

Most hospital licenses automatically have "Hold for Decay" provisions because
they routinely have to decay large amounts of Tc-99m (T1/2 = 6 hrs) and other
short half life radiopharmaceuticals.  However, since the decay in storage
provisions are contained within 10 CFR 35, the Human Use part of the NRC regs.,
non-hospital licenses do not automatically have a decay in storage authorization
unless it is specifically asked for during the license application or by
amendment.  I suspect the incident you refer to was a non-human use licensee who
did not foresee the need for a decay in storage program.  

Decay in storage programs are usually allowed to decay isotopes with T 1/2's
less than 65 days, although I have heard that it can be extended by amendment.
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><
Michael J. Bohan, RSO   |  e-mail: mike.bohan@yale.edu
Yale-New Haven Hospital |    Tele: (203) 785-2950
Radiological Physics    |     FAX: (203) 737-4252
20 York St. - WWW 204   |    As usual, everything I say may be plausibly
New Haven, CT    06504  |    denied at my employer's convenience ...
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--------------------------------------
Date: 24/06/97 9:12 AM
To: Mike Bohan
From: radsafe@romulus.ehs.uiuc.edu
Mike Bohan wrote:
>In that program, we even used to collect, assay and
>store all the urine for decay without significant thyroid uptakes.

Mike's comment jogged my memory concerning the storage of urine samples
without being licensed to do so.

I seem to remember someone telling me at an HPS meeting a few years ago
that a hosptial got dinged by the NRC for storing radioactive urine 
samples.  Seems the hospital had a radioiodine spill and the RSO 
collected urine samples from those involved to calculated internal dose.
When the NRC came in,  they gave the hospital a good report in dealing
the incident.  However,  they dinged the licensee for storing
the radioactive urine samples for decay without being licensed to do so.

Can anyone out there confirm this incident?  I would appreciate your
keeping the NRC bashing to a minimum as this is only a confirmatory
item not an action item  :)

Regards,
Vince Chase
772ear@delphi.com
Radiation Safety Officer
Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals
The opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not represent
the opinions policies or practices of Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals.