Intercomparison of phosphorus-32, technetium-99m and iodine-131 activity measurement in Pakistani nuclear medical centers and supplier

Technetium-99m and iodine-131 are the leading isotopes used in diagnosis and radiotherapy, respectively in Pakistani nuclear medical centers. Both radionuclides are regularly supplied by Isotope Production Division (IPD), PINSTECH to nuclear medical centers in Pakistan. The packages of P-32, Mo-99 -> Tc-99m generators, and I-131, are prepared at IPD and dispatched by air, rail or road according to the desired activity at reference day to nuclear medical centers. An accurate determination of the activity to be administered to the patient plays key role on the quality of the clinical result of a medical investigation. Activity meters are employed for quantification of radioactivity of radionuclides at supplier site as well as by the users. In order to investigate the performance on the quality of activity measurements and elution efficiency of PAKGEN Tc-99m generators, a pilot program of intercomparison was organized between the supplier and the users. The results of intercomparison of the activity measurements showed a maximum difference of +/- 13 % between supplier and nuclear medical centers.