Analysis of the 89Sr and 90Sr content in eluates of fission produced 99Mo-sup(99m)Tc generators

Twenty-five sup(99m)Tc generators produced from fission product 99Mo by the two sole distributors were analyzed for radiostrontium contamination. The results showed that the greatest quantities of 89Sr and 90Sr found in the eluates were 5.1 x 10-7 and 5.9 x 10-8 μCi/mCi sup(99m)Tc, respectively. These levels of contamination are, at maximum, three orders of magnitude less than the limits considered acceptable by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. It is concluded that if the fission produced 99Mo is manufactured and processed in the same manner as the production runs involved in this study, then the 89Sr and 90Sr contamination in the sup(99m)Tc eluates is not significant. (author)