RE: Measurement and Calculation of Beta Emitter Radiopharmaceutical

[Rotman Mark <MRotman@snm.org>]

Mr. Scott, first I would suggest looking for a commercial nuclear pharmacy
who can supply your hospital.  Since you are in New England, I am sure there
are many.  If that fails you could simply determine the radioactive
concentration at the time you plan for administration based on the
manufacturers assay, do the math and draw up that volume.  Alternatively you
could draw up exactly 1 ml (in a syringe with exactly the same
characteristics as you will use for the final injection), determine
mathematically its theoretical activity based on the manufacturers assay,
and adjust the pot setting on your dose calibrator until you get a read out
that matches.  Then draw up the volume which will contain the dose you want
and confirm the assay using the new pot setting previously determined.
Since the product is an FDA approved and licensed drug, I would assume their
manufacturing assay is correct.  Good Luck.



Mark Rotman
Government Relations
Society of Nuclear Medicine
703-708-9000 ext. 1242
703-708-9777 FAX
mrotman@snm.org
http://www.snm.org



-----Original Message-----
From: Robert A Scott [mailto:bobscottchp@juno.com]
Sent: Wednesday, December 08, 1999 3:36 PM
To: Multiple recipients of list
Subject: Measurement and Calculation of Beta Emitter Radiopharmaceutical


Radsafers:

	In RI we have just received the revised regulations of the Radiation
Control Agency.  And one of our docs wants to treat a patient with sodium
phosphate (P-32) for polycythemia vera.  The order is for 3.2 mCi, but
vendors only supply in 5 mCi (5 ml) vials or syringe.  Are there any
vendors out there who supply unit doses of sodium phosphate (P-32)?  The
new regs say that if I cannot obtain a unit dose, I have to be able to
measure or measure and calculate the dose using some method other than a
simple comparison technique with a photon dose calibrator.  Then whatever
method I use, I have to document and describe the assay technique and
hold this documentation for 3 years.

	I thought of a basic internal standard liquid scintillation
technique,
but such standards are not routinely available anytime we want.  

	So how do we do this?  Or am I interpreting this regulation too
literally?  Any help will be greatly appreciated.

Bob Scott, RPO 
Roger Williams Medical Center
Providence, Rhode Island
bobscottchp@juno.com
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