RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Lung Ventilation Studies: Surface Contamination Associated with Technetium-99m DTPA Aerosol
JF Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
JO J. Nucl. Med. Technol.
FD Society of Nuclear Medicine
SP 228
OP 230
VO 20
IS 4
A1 McGraw, Rosemarie S.
A1 Culver, Cheryl M.
A1 Juni, Jack E.
A1 Schane, Evelyn C.
A1 Nagle, Conrad E.
YR 1992
UL http://tech.snmjournals.org/content/20/4/228.abstract
AB 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.