Investigation of handling the radiopharmaceuticals in Japan and making of guidance to handle the radiopharmaceuticals

The Working Group in Japanese Society of Nuclear Medicine Technology conducted the investigation of handing the radiopharmaceuticals in Japan through on/off-line questionnaire to 492 facilities in the period of Nov. 14-Dec. 22, 2009 to know the present state of radiopharmaceutical (RP) handling and to compare the data with past ones. This paper describes the questionnaire results and their analysis, and guidance to handle RP, made by the Group. The questionnaire contains 32 items concerning the system for appointment of examination, personnel's responsible work, notes given at RP administration, incidence of failure and questions to positron emission tomography (PET) facilities. Answers to the questionnaire are obtained from 184 facilities (37.4%). It is found that medical radiation technologists have responsibility in 80% or more of works like RP ordering and receiving, milking, labeling and subdivision of RP solution. The results are not so much changed from the past status (15 years ago) and decreased role of pharmacists is noted in this nuclear medicinal field, which, this paper points out, is a problem revealed by the investigation. The guidance in the title is made based on the investigation for the purpose of safe and appropriate handling of RP by concerned personnel and is to be disclosed in the web of the Society. The guidance contains specifications of the brand and general names of RP, contraindication, effect, notice at administration, pre-treatment, efficacy and general pharmacology/ pharmacokinetics, side effects and other notices; and involves 39 diagnostic agents (7-head, 3-neck, 11-chest, 11-abdomen, and 7-whole body agents labeled by 99mTc, 201Tl, 123I, 111In, 133Xe, 81mKr, 67Ga or 18F) and 4 therapeutic ones (131I, 89Sr or 90Y). (K.T.)