RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Radioactivity Decontamination of Materials Commonly Used as Surfaces in General-Purpose Radioisotope Laboratories JF Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology JO J. Nucl. Med. Technol. FD Society of Nuclear Medicine SP 292 OP 295 DO 10.2967/jnmt.114.144303 VO 42 IS 4 A1 Leonardi, Natalia M. A1 Tesán, Fiorella C. A1 Zubillaga, Marcela B. A1 Salgueiro, María J. YR 2014 UL http://tech.snmjournals.org/content/42/4/292.abstract AB In accord with as-low-as-reasonably-achievable and good-manufacturing-practice concepts, the present study evaluated the efficiency of radioactivity decontamination of materials commonly used in laboratory surfaces and whether solvent spills on these materials affect the findings. Methods: Four materials were evaluated: stainless steel, a surface comprising one-third acrylic resin and two-thirds natural minerals, an epoxy cover, and vinyl-based multipurpose flooring. Radioactive material was eluted from a 99Mo/99mTc generator, and samples of the surfaces were control-contaminated with 37 MBq (100 μL) of this eluate. The same procedure was repeated with samples of surfaces previously treated with 4 solvents: methanol, methyl ethyl ketone, acetone, and ethanol. The wet radioactive contamination was allowed to dry and then was removed with cotton swabs soaked in soapy water. The effectiveness of decontamination was defined as the percentage of activity removed per cotton swab, and the efficacy of decontamination was defined as the total percentage of activity removed, which was obtained by summing the percentages of activity in all the swabs required to complete the decontamination. Results: Decontamination using our protocol was most effective and most efficacious for stainless steel and multipurpose flooring. Moreover, treatment with common organic solvents seemed not to affect the decontamination of these surfaces. Decontamination of the other two materials was less efficient and was interfered with by the organic solvents; there was also great variability in the overall results obtained for these other two materials. Conclusion: In expanding our laboratory, it is possible for us to select those surface materials on which our decontamination protocol works best.