Radiochemical Evaluation of Commercial Iminodiacetate Hepatobiliary Radiopharmaceuticals

Abstract

The radiochemical purity of commercially available hepatobiliary iminodiacetate radiopharmaceuticals was evaluated up to 24-hr postformulation. We used a rapid miniaturized chromatography system consisting of Gelman ITLC-SA and 20% NaCl to evaluate free pertechnetate and Gelman ITLC-SG and distilled water to evaluate hydrolyzed reduced Tc-99m (Tc-HR). Results indicate that minimal radiopharmaceutical breakdown occurred in all IDA agents tested within 5-hr post-formulation. At 8 hr after preparation, some breakdown was observed in specific IDA radiopharmaceuticals as evidenced by increasing pertechnetate levels. Greater radiopharmaceutical instability was observed at 24-hr postformulation. Tc-HR levels remained relatively low (<5%) for all IDA agents throughout the study.