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Technetium-99 in Generator Systems

Australian Atomic Energy Commission Research Establishment, Lucas Heights Research Laboratories

Correspondence: For reprints contact: Philip W. Moore, PhD, Isotope Division, Australian Atomic Energy Commission Research Establishment, Lucas Heights Research Laboratories, Private Mail Bag, Sutherland, NSW, 2232, Australia.

ABSTRACT

Technetium-99m solutions always contain Tc-99. The amount varies considerably, depending on production methods and conditions, generator performance, and the time between production or separation and use. There is increasing evidence that labeling and imaging with some radiopharmaceutical kits is adversely affected when the Tc-99 exceeds certain amounts. The sensitivity of particular kits to Tc-99 depends on the ligand, the amount of usable Sn²⁺, and the ratio of Tc to ligand. Although Tc-99 formed during production is removed in the final steps of generator manufacture, some may appear in early extractions in the solvent extraction process. If elution or extraction efficiencies are high, any Tc-99 is reduced within about two elutions to an insignificant level that is maintained in subsequent elutions. If efficiencies are below about 40%, however, the ratio of Tc-99 to Tc-99m increases with each elution.