Re: Pregnancy tests on all I-131 patients???

[Chris Alston <alstonc@odrge.odr.georgetown.edu>]

>For ALL female patients treceiving I-131 for therapy, we always perform TWO
>preganancy tests.  One test is performed one week before the I-131 is due,
>and the second is performed on the day that the I-131 is due to be given.
>
>Why two tests?  Most, if not all, beta-HCG tests do not show positive until
>2 days after conception.  A test performed on the day of admission can
>still miss a pregnancy if conception occurred in the previous 2 days.  We
>therefore check to see that both tests are negative and that the beta-HCG
>levels are not higher in the 2nd sample than in the first.
>
>We have had no problems with this policy for many years.
>
>Regards
>
>
>Richard
>
>
>
>At 04:01 P 19.7.1999 -0400, you wrote:
>>I would be interested in finding out what the "Standard of Care" is at
>other facilities for the administration of I-131 to patients in their child
>bearing years.  Do you ask them if they could be pregnant?,  Do you use the
>10 day rule?, or  Do you get a pregnancy test regardless?
>>
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>>
>Richard Smart PhD
>Principal Physicist & Radiation Safety Officer
>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
>
>	***********	************
>Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) for Medphys at:
>http://sherouse.home.mindspring.com/MPFAQ/
>
>Archives of recent Medphys Postings at:
>http://www.escribe.com/medicine/medphys/
>

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