Radioactive material packages delivered directly to Nuclear Medicine contain radionuclides that will be administered to patients for diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. Direct deliveries may arrive on any day and at any time of the day.

• Nuclear Medicine may receive packages that are specific to the Nuclear Medicine CRA, including ^99mTc, ¹⁸F from the cyclotron, exempt quantity sources for calibration, and other special calibration sources.
• All packages that are received with a White I, Yellow II, or Yellow III label shall be monitored for surface contamination and external radiation levels within 3 hours after receipt if received during working hours, or within 3 hours of the start of the next business day if received after working hours.
• All packages shall be visually inspected for any sign of external damage (e.g., wet or crushed).  If damage is noted, processing of the package shall be halted and Health Physics shall be notified immediately.

Processing Nuclear Medicine Radioactive Packages

Upon receipt, all radioactive material packages will be entered into the Nuclear Medicine drug receipt database.

Nuclear Medicine Package Radiological Receipt Swipe Surveys

The exterior surface of the package shall be surveyed (swiped over an average of 300 cm²) for removable contamination.

• If wipe test results indicate no radioactive contamination is present on the exterior of the package (e.g., less than 22 dpm/cm²), process the package as usual.
• If wipe test results indicate that removable contamination levels are > 22 dpm/cm² and < 220 dpm/cm², the package should be decontaminated prior to further handling (inform Health Physics of this occurrence).
• If wipe test results indicate that removable contamination levels exceed 220 dpm/cm², Health Physics shall be notified immediately.

Nuclear Medicine Package Radiation Surveys

The dose rate from the package at 1 meter from each of the package surfaces shall be measured.

• The Transportation Index (TI) noted on the packages with “Yellow II” or “Yellow III” labels is the dose rate, in mrem/hour, at 1 meter from the package surface.  The surface dose rate for such packages shall not exceed 200 mrem/hour.
• The dose rate from packages with “White I” labels shall be less than 0.5 mrem/hour on the package surface. (See 49 CFR 172.403)  If dose rates exceed any of the dose rates discussed above, stop and notify the RSO or his/her designee immediately.

Procedure for Empty Packages (i.e., packages that will be returned to the vendor)

• Prior to returning the empty package (usually an ammo box), swipe and monitor the package for contamination.
• If contamination is present, decontaminate.
• If the package is not contaminated remove or switch the radiation label to the “empty” notice.
• Receipt and return of all radioactive packages is documented by entering the required data in to the Pinestar Database or other Nuclear Medicine Database.