A guideline for handling radiopharmaceuticals in hospitals

This document is designed to provide a guideline for handling radiopharmaceuticals in hospitals prepared by the Subcommittee on Treatment of Radiopharmaceuticals in Hospitals belonging to the Medical and Pharmaceutical Committee of the Japan Radioisotope Association. The guideline is allocated into the following 8 sections: (I) overview of radiopharmaceuticals, focusing on their characteristics and clinical usage; (II) the pharmacy and therapeutic committee in hospitals and procedures of application of radiopharmaceuticals; (III) procedures in clinical trials for new radiopharmaceuticals; (IV) thoughts from purchasing to using radiopharmaceuticals; and (V) storage, disposal, and countermeasures for accidents related to radiopharmaceuticals in hospitals; (VI) handling of radioactive waste disposal; (VII) determination of radiation doses and contamination test; and (VIII) record obligation. It is hoped that this document be helpful in reassessing the handling manuals in hospitals to prevent unexpected accidents of radiopharmaceuticals. An appendix gives standards on the performance of clinical trials of radiopharmaceuticals, which was presented on October 2, 1989 by the Ministry of Health and Welfare in Japan. (N.K.)