68Ge content quality control of 68Ge/68Ga-generator eluates and 68Ga radiopharmaceuticals – A protocol for determining the 68Ge content using thin-layer chromatography

•68Ga is analytically separated from 68Ge using TLC.•68Ge-breakthrough can be determined in 68Ga-eluate and radiopharmaceutical.•68Ge breakthrough determination takes place within 1 h.

68Ge breakthrough from a 68Ge/68Ga-generator appears to be one of the most critical parameters for the routine clinical application of this generator and 68Ga-radiopharmaceuticals. We report a TLC-based (thin-layer chromatography) protocol which allows the 68Ge breakthrough of a generator to be determined within 1 h post-initial elution. The protocol can also be adapted to allow the 68Ge content of a 68Ga-radiopharmaceutical preparation to be determined prior to in vivo application.