Radioactive impurities in eluates from 99Mo-99Tcsup(m) generators

Radionuclidic contamination in eluates from 99Mo-99Tcsup(m) generators originating from two different producers has been investigated. Spectral analyses using a Ge(Li) spectrometer, showed 103Ru, 110Agsup(m), 131I and 192Ir in varying proportions, in eluates from generators or producer A. For producer B no long-lived contaminants were found although some 131I was detected in eluate from one generator. It is known that the 99Mo in all the generators tested was neutron-irradiation and not fission-based. 103Ru has previously only been reported as a significant contaminant in eluants from fission-based generators. The additional absorbed dose to individual organs of a patient for 10 mCi 99Tcsup(m) administered soon after the receipt of a generator has been estimated. For the thyroid, values were in the range 1 to 5 m rad, and for other individual organs and the whole body less than 1 m rad