Is your technetium generator eluate sterile?
OBJECTIVE
This study was performed to assess the sterility of multidose 99mTc generator eluate vials at the end of a working day.


METHODS
Expired 99mTc generator eluate vials were collected over a period of 10 wk and stored until the activity reached background. Four batches of 10 vials each were selected randomly and sent to an independent microbiology laboratory for sterility testing.


RESULTS
No eluate showed any microbial growth after 14 d incubation in growth media.


CONCLUSIONS
Retrospective sterility testing of 99mTc generator eluate confirmed the validity of our departmental protocol for radiopharmaceutical preparation. Sterility testing has become part of our quality control program.
Snowdon
G M
GM
Department of Nuclear Medicine, Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney, Australia. gsnowdon@doh.health.nsw.gov.au
D019840:2-Propanol / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001419:Bacteria / Q000254:growth & development; D004202:Disinfectants / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004203:Disinfection / Q000379:methods; D004340:Drug Contamination / Q000517:prevention & control; D004356:Drug Storage; D004866:Equipment Contamination / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D009339:Needles; D011786:Quality Control; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals / Q000592:standards; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013667:Technetium / Q000592:standards; D013679:Technology, Radiologic / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000592:standards
D004202:Disinfectants; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D013667:Technetium; D019840:2-Propanol