Q A Salako1, S J DeNardo. 1. Department of Internal Medicine, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, USA.
Abstract
UNLABELLED: Yttrium-90 is used in radioimmunotherapy because of its favorable physical half-life and energetic pure beta emissions. However, it is often necessary to standardize 90Y sources to establish a dose calibrator dial setting for accurate calibration of clinical doses of 90Y preparations. METHODS: A solution of 90YCl3 containing 2.81 kBq/ml (by supplier's calibration) was prepared by serial dilution In 0.05 M HCl. Ten 100-microliters aliquots of this solution were counted in a Packard liquid scintillation analyzer; the mean radioactivity in becquerels was determined and used to evaluate dial settings 48 x 10,775 x 70 and 775 x 100 on a radionuclide dose calibrator for 90Y measurements. The dose calibrator response was also studied on 90Y sources at varying solution volumes in plastic and glass containers. RESULTS: Calibrator readings of 90Y sources in glass and plastic vials and plastic syringes were accurate at either dial setting 48 x 10 (commonly used by many 90Y laboratories) or 775 x 70. Measurements of 1.15 and 3.03 GBq (31 and 82 mCi, respectively) calibrated 90Y sources in either vial were -3.0 and +4.3%, respectively, at dial-setting 775 x 70 and -4.0 and +9.0% at 48 x 10. Yttrium-90 sources in plastic syringes gave higher readings than those in glass vials, therefore, requiring a container correction factor for accurate dose assay. Measurements of 90YCl3 shipments from four suppliers over a 3-yr period demonstrated concurring calibration measurements at both 775 x 70 and 48 x 10 settings for shipments from all suppliers. The dose calibrator response to 90Y radiation was linear within a 1-333 kBq range in a constant sample volume of 580 microliters. CONCLUSION: This work demonstrates the validity of using the 48 x 10 dial-factor combination on the standard radionuclide dose calibrator for calibration of 90Y radiopharmaceuticals.
UNLABELLED: Yttrium-90 is used in radioimmunotherapy because of its favorable physical half-life and energetic pure beta emissions. However, it is often necessary to standardize 90Y sources to establish a dose calibrator dial setting for accurate calibration of clinical doses of 90Y preparations. METHODS: A solution of 90YCl3 containing 2.81 kBq/ml (by supplier's calibration) was prepared by serial dilution In 0.05 M HCl. Ten 100-microliters aliquots of this solution were counted in a Packard liquid scintillation analyzer; the mean radioactivity in becquerels was determined and used to evaluate dial settings 48 x 10,775 x 70 and 775 x 100 on a radionuclide dose calibrator for 90Y measurements. The dose calibrator response was also studied on 90Y sources at varying solution volumes in plastic and glass containers. RESULTS: Calibrator readings of 90Y sources in glass and plastic vials and plastic syringes were accurate at either dial setting 48 x 10 (commonly used by many 90Y laboratories) or 775 x 70. Measurements of 1.15 and 3.03 GBq (31 and 82 mCi, respectively) calibrated 90Y sources in either vial were -3.0 and +4.3%, respectively, at dial-setting 775 x 70 and -4.0 and +9.0% at 48 x 10. Yttrium-90 sources in plastic syringes gave higher readings than those in glass vials, therefore, requiring a container correction factor for accurate dose assay. Measurements of 90YCl3 shipments from four suppliers over a 3-yr period demonstrated concurring calibration measurements at both 775 x 70 and 48 x 10 settings for shipments from all suppliers. The dose calibrator response to 90Y radiation was linear within a 1-333 kBq range in a constant sample volume of 580 microliters. CONCLUSION: This work demonstrates the validity of using the 48 x 10 dial-factor combination on the standard radionuclide dose calibrator for calibration of 90Y radiopharmaceuticals.