Implementation of a national metrology network of radionuclides used in nuclear medicine.
The Nuclear Medicine Services (NMS) in Brazil routinely use dose calibrators to measure the activity of solutions containing radiopharmaceuticals. These solutions are administered to patients with the intention to diagnose or treat illnesses. However, for optimal results, the activity of these radiopharmaceuticals must be determined as accurately as possible. The National Laboratory for Ionizing Radiation Metrology (LNMRI) led, since 1998, a comparison program for activity measurements of radiopharmaceuticals administered to patients in the NMS with the purpose promoting quality control. This program has been carried out successfully in Rio de Janeiro, but there is a need to implement it around the country. This can be resolved through the implementation of a network of regional laboratories at various locations throughout the national territory. Currently, such a network is active at a second site, located in Brasília, covering the needs of the Center-West Region, and at a third site, located in Porto Alegre, in the South Region. This work presents the results of comparisons for the radiopharmaceuticals nuclides 131I and 99Tcm and proves that the implementation of a radionuclide metrology network is feasible and viable.
dos Santos
Joyra A
JA
Coordenação de Instalações Radiativas (CORAD)/Comissão Nacional de Energia Nuclear (CNEN), Rua General Severiano 90, Botafogo, CEP 22290-040, RJ, Brazil. joyra@cnen.gov.br
Iwahara
Akira
A
Nícoli
Iêda G
IG
Corrêa
Rosângela S
RS
Alabarse
Frederico G
FG
dos Santos
Carlos E L
CE
Xavier
Ana M
AM
Garcia
Eloy J
EJ
Tauhata
Luiz
L
Lopes
Ricardo T
RT
D001938:Brazil; D002138:Calibration / Q000592:standards; D009683:Nuclear Medicine / Q000379:methods* / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011834:Radiation Monitoring / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards*; D011835:Radiation Protection / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D011868:Radioisotopes / Q000032:analysis* / Q000592:standards*; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals / Q000032:analysis / Q000592:standards; D012015:Reference Standards; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D011868:Radioisotopes; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals