more on capsules!

["Broseus, Roger" <rbroseus@exchange.nih.gov>]

	----------
	From: 	Bass, Billy G.[SMTP:bgb3@mhg.edu]
	Sent: 	Wednesday, October 01, 1997 10:37 AM
	To: 	Multiple recipients of list
	Subject: 	Re: I-131 procedure bioassay requirement


	Regarding the bioassay requirement, we had a case where a
technologist 
	transferred I-131 capsules from the shipping container to the
dosing 
	container without using the hood (capsules are sealed, right?).
That 
	individual received an elevated thyroid burden of iodine.  I
don't remember 
	the exact level, but the effective dose was estimated at about 1
rem.  Since 
	then all handling of capsules (diagnostic or therapeutic) are
performed in 
	an approved hood.  In a related incident, some of our nuclear
physicians 
	felt that they did not have to get the bioassays because "they
did not 
	participate directly in the administration of the iodine".  The
NRC 
	disagreed, and a number of us got an invitation to
King-of-Prussia for an 
	enforcement conference, a fine, and some very unpleasant
publicity which the 
	Board of Directors did no appreciate.  To quote the old adage "a
word to the 
	wise..."

	Bill Bass
	RSO Washington Hospital Center
	 ----------
	From: radsafe%romulus.ehs.uiuc.edu
	To: Multiple recipients of list
	Subject: Re: I-131 procedure bioassay requirement
	Date: Tuesday, September 30, 1997 5:54PM

	Dear Radsafers,

	The discussions on the need for bioassays when using I-131
capsules has been
	restricted purely to the legal requirements under the various US

	legislation.

	No one has mentioned whether they have ever detected a
significant internal
	contamination problem from the administration of I-131 capsules,
from their
	routine bioassays.

	Bioassays after I-131 administration are not legally required in
NSW,
	Australia, and are not routinely performed. Does any one have
data which
	would suggest that we should be doing bioassays routinely?

	Regards

	Richard

	Richard Smart PhD
	Department of Nuclear Medicine
	St. George Hospital
	Kogarah, NSW 2217
	Australia
	Tel:61 2 9350 3112
	Fax:61 2 9350 3991
	Email:R.Smart@unsw.edu.au