Why can technetium 99m be stockpiled
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Load more articles. No comments yet. You're not signed in. To link your comment to your profile, sign in now. Only registered users can comment on this article. Technetiumm — derived from molybdenum — is the most commonly used isotope for radionuclide medical imaging, which noninvasively evaluates regional physiologic and metabolic processes, such as cardiac blood flow, with the ultimate goal of localizing diseased tissues and organs.
This isotope has not been produced in the U. Molybdenum and technetiumm are distributed through an international supply chain on a weekly or more frequent basis. Such speedy delivery is essential because molybdenum and technetiumm have short half-lives and therefore cannot be stockpiled.
The report finds that while current global supplies of molybdenum are adequate to meet U. Canada will then become a supplier of last resort — producing molybdenum only in case of severe global shortages — until its reactor shuts down permanently at the end of March The committee that conducted the study and wrote the report said that there is a substantial likelihood of severe molybdenum and technetiumm shortages after October , should any of the other current suppliers fail, and lasting at least until other global suppliers complete their planned capacity expansions, currently scheduled for The committee recommended that the U.
James Adelstein, Paul C. The U. However, demand in the U. Origins and Nature of Tcm To understand why the supply chain is so sensitive, it helps to understand the Tcm production process. Domestic Production of Mo The supply chain is complex, but we do anticipate that there will be more U. The Future David Pellicciarini notes that Cardinal Health participates in several industry associations and groups, including the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development OECD to help influence policy and communicate critical messages about the needs of the U.
Making Healthcare Convenient. As Needed. When Needed. Where Needed. Sign Up! Subscribe to the Digirad Newsletter for the latest updates. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy. Major changes are taking place in the intricate network that supplies healthcare providers around the world with molybdenum Mo , a key radioisotope for nuclear medicine studies. The question is, can the nuclear medicine community avoid another devastating shutdown like the one that occurred in ?
Back then, providers were left scrambling after a perfect storm left sites without supplies of Mo, which cannot be stockpiled due to its extremely short half-life.
In the years since the crisis, nuclear reactor operators, nuclear medicine pharmacies and practitioners, radioisotope generator manufacturers, medical societies, and other stakeholders have banded together to ensure that adequate supplies of Mo and its technetiumm Tcm byproduct are consistently available.
That means Mo suppliers must have permanent arrangements in place to acquire additional capacity to cover shortfalls when reactors go offline for scheduled or unplanned maintenance. They are basically asking radiators to produce this additional amount. The outage reserve capacity is maintained by Mo suppliers paying for extra ports and time on a nuclear reactor. If a supply issue occurs, they then have a position in line to acquire additional Mo to cover the shortfall.
The demand for Mo is expected to grow modestly over the next four years, peaking at approximately 11, Ci per week. Interestingly, the anticipated upswing follows a reduced call for Mo in The growth rate in mature markets is expected to remain stable at 0. Whatever demands are to come will be handled by fewer Mo suppliers, however. Even before its permanent closure, the NRU reactor manufactured little if any Mo since October In addition, the Osiris reactor in France shut down at the end of