Abstract
Although technetium-99m (99mTc) HMPAO leukocytes deliver substantially lower absorbed doses to patients than do indium-111 (111In) oxine leukocytes, we expected that the pharmacist or technologist performing the labeling procedure would receive a higher radiation dose from 99mTc due to the larger amounts of activity being utilized. Thermoluminescent dosimeters were used to measure radiation doses during actual labeling procedures with 99mTc HMPAO and 111In oxine. These measurements showed that the radiation doses from 99mTc leukocyte labeling procedures are 3.3 times higher for the whole body and 4.6 times higher for the hands than are the doses from 111In leukocyte labeling procedures.