How to combine hygiene and radiation protection for radiopharmaceuticals preparation? Analysis in France and propositions.

Radiopharmaceuticals for intravenous administration are considered as sterile medicinal products. Their preparation in hospitals involves adherence to regulations on radiation protection as well as to sterility requirements for parenteral administration. These two basic aspects are often opposite, making the working conditions difficult to define. Official texts that have included hygiene and radiation protection do not precisely state how to combine these two aspects in practice. Thus, after an analysis of the bibliography available, this review will show that even if hospital radiopharmacy departments in France are not able to work in total aseptic environments, some measures can be taken in order to improve preparation conditions.