title: Indigenous technology development and standardization of the process for obtaining ready to use sterile sodium pertechnetate-Tc-99m solution from Geltech generator.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The indigenous design and technology development for processing large scale zirconium molybdate-Mo-99 (ZrMo-99) Geltech generator was successfully commissioned in Board of Radiation and Isotope Technology (BRIT), India, in 2006. The generator production facility comprises of four shielded plant facilities equipped with tongs and special process gadgets amenable for remote operations for radiochemical processing of ZrMo-99 gel.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Over 2800 Geltech generators have been processed and supplied to user hospitals during the period 2006-2013. Geltech generator supplied by BRIT was initially not sterile. Simple elution of Tc-99m is performed by a sterile evacuated vial with sterile and pyrogen free 0.9% NaCl solution to obtain sodium (Tc-99m) pertechnetate solution. A special type online 0.22 μm membrane filter has been identified and adapted in Geltech generator.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The online filtration of Tc-99m from Geltech generator; thus, provided sterile Tc-99m sodium pertechnetate solution. Generators assembled with modified filter assembly were supplied to local hospital in Mumbai Radiation Medicine Centre (RMC) and S.G.S. Medical College and KEM Hospital) and excellent performances were reported by users.
authors.affiliation: Board of Radiation and Isotope Technology, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.
authors.forename: Sishir Kumar
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Sarkar
authors.forename: Chetan
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kothalkar
authors.forename: Prabhakar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Naskar
authors.forename: Sangeeta
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Joshi
authors.forename: Padmanabhan
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Saraswathy
authors.forename: Arun Chandra
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Dey
authors.forename: Gunvant Leeladhar
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Vispute
authors.forename: Vishwas Vinayak
authors.initials: VV
authors.lastname: Murhekar
authors.forename: Neelam
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pilkhwal
keywords: Geltech generator; hydromillex SLST025DM 0.22 μm sterile membrane filter; sterile sodium pertechnetate-Tc-99m; technology development