Implementation of a metrology national network for radionuclides used in nuclear medicine

The Brazilian Laboratory for Metrology of Ionizing Radiation (LNMRI), of the Radioprotection and Dosimetry Institute, owned by the National Commission of Nuclear Energy (IRD/CNEN-RJ) has conducting since 1998, a comparison program for measurements of radiopharmaceuticals activities applied to patients at Nuclear Medicine sector aiming to the assessment the quality of those measurements. In the Rio de Janeiro state this program is successfully performed existing however the necessity to implement such program all over the country. This problem is being solved through the implementation of a reference laboratories network at several points in the brazilian territory. For the establishment and good working of the network the following factors must be observed: the radionuclide calibrators at the reference laboratories must be connected to the LNMRI; the operators must be trained by the staff or the LNMRI, and the quality guarantee must be assured through a comparison program. Presently, the network point placed in Brasilia is running and covering all the center-west region. The results obtained at this region show that the implementation of the metrology network is viable, important and achievable