Deloris Carter (where?) asks: >>I'm trying to complete a protocol for radioactive specimen handling. I need to know if anyone has suggestions for this. We do not use a geiger counter for specimens. The radiation safety person in nuclear med says their policy is that technicium 99 has such a short half life, and that there is no need for special handling of sentinel node specimens. I just need some input. I'm not really getting anywhere with nuclear med on any other information such as prostate seeds, the actual breast biopsy that may be sent after a sentinel node procedure, etc. Our CAP inspection looms, and I need to finalize this protocol ASAP. Thanks for any help.<<
Technetium 99m has a half-life of six hours, decaying (emitting a gamma particle) into technetium 99 which has a half-life of over 100,000 years. The amount of radioactive material in a sentinel node or a lumpectomy specimen is so small that no special precautions are needed in handling and processing it. There are a number of good articles about this available - I can probably find some references - but this matter was put to rest about 15 years ago. The radioisotopes in prostate "seeds" are more hazardous. There are three such isotopes, if all of them are still in use. The longest-lived has a half-life of 73 days, so it takes about two years for it to decay to a reasonably safe level. I've received "seeds" in prostatectomy (TURP) specimens, with no information as to what they were or how old they were. Although they are probably not very hazardous, I consider this to be serious negligence. Here's what they look like, from a specimen I had several years ago (the "seeds" were four years old, I finally found out). http://www.flickr.com/photos/bobrichmond/5833004125/in/set-72157618450128961 I would suggest not processing the specimen (or opening the container) until adequate information is obtained. Expect to be treated with great condescension when you inquire. I don't know of any references on the subject. I don't know how CAP addresses the problem. Bob Richmond Samurai Pathologist Maryville TN _______________________________________________ Histonet mailing list Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet