Performance Assessment of Clinical Technicium-99m Generator by Moly Assay Test in a Tertiary Care Hospital

Abstract

The most commonly used radioactive isotope is Technetium-99 (Tc-99m) is principle component in nuclear medicine department used in diagnostic procedures. It is obtained as the decay product of Molybdenum-99 (Mo-99) and has half-life of 66 hours and its energy is not suitable for diagnosis. Study presented here is about the assay for Moly assay test performed as routine clinical practice before each elution. The generators received in a tertiary care facility are GE healthcare Drytec™ generator (UK). To verify the Mo-99contamination standard Moly assay canister and dose calibrator the CRC-15R (CAPINTEC Inc, USA) were used. From January 07, 2015 to February 02, 2016 total 336 elutions were performed. Through the course of time most of the generators eluted have shown very low value of Moly assay test (0.0039 µCi / mCi) which is very less as compared to limit proposed in protocols (0.150 µCi / mCi ). The study reflects good manufacturing and quality control of the GE healthcare Drytec™ generator which provides an evidence of safe medical practices.

Keywords: Elution, Tc-99m generator, Moly Assay test MAT, kurtosis, skewness