Measurement of long lived radioactive impurities retained in the disposable cassettes on the Tracerlab MX system during the production of [18F]FDG

Using a High- Purity Germanium gamma-ray spectrometer, a number of radioisotopes have been identified within Tracerlab MX radiochemistry system cassettes used to synthesise [18F]FDG. Twenty radiochemistry cassettes were measured and the average total activity of each radioisotope was determined. Using these values and decay correction, the minimum time the cassettes should be left in a decay store before the specific activity falls below 0.4B q/g, the limit for disposal alongside Clinical Waste was found to be 24 months.

► Long-lived radionuclides are present in the single-use cassettes used for the synthesis of FDG.
► Disposal method of FDG cassettes need to be established.
► We investigated and determined the level of these long-lived radionuclides.
► Recommended storage time for FDG cassettes is 24 months to be disposed as clinical waste.