Lung Ventilation Studies: Surface Contamination Associated with Technetium-99m DTPA Aerosol

Abstract

Aerosol ventilation studies are assumed to have negligible room contamination when used correctly. This study was undertaken to determine whether a measurable amount of surface contamination is associated with routine technetium-99m DTPA aerosol ventilation studies. Three potential sources of contamination were evaluated: aerosol leakage related to the patients, aerosol leakage at the exhaust of the delivery system, and aerosol leakage related to operator error. A predefined protocol was used for setting up the apparatus and performing wipe tests. A GM survey was performed, and in all cases, no levels above background were detected. The results of the wipe tests, however, showed that 57% of patient studies had contamination underneath the exhaust of the device; 35% of the studies had floor contamination; and 39% of the studies contaminated the area adjacent to the patient.