Cost-effectiveness of routine radiochemical quality assurance testing of technetium Tc 99m radiopharmaceuticals

Journal Article · Thu May 01 00:00:00 EDT 1986 · Am. J. Hosp. Pharm.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5330326

Ponto, J A; Ponto, L L

The cost-effectiveness of performing routine radiochemical quality assurance (QA) testing of technetium Tc 99m radiopharmaceuticals was evaluated. Data were collected retrospectively on use and failures of radiopharmaceuticals over a 30-month period at a university hospital. Cost of quality assurance testing of the radiopharmaceuticals and cost of not performing this routine testing (e.g., repetition of invalid studies) were compared. Possible reasons for failure of radiopharmaceuticals to meet QA standards were examined. Based on these data and an informal survey of the incidence of failures at other nuclear pharmacies, expected radiopharmaceutical failure rates were calculated. The incidence of failures at the study institution was 0.56% (20 of 3775); the other nuclear pharmacies reported similar data. Based on these data, 6 failures per 1000 technetium Tc 99m radiopharmaceuticals prepared were predicted. ''Low tin'' kits (e.g., albumin aggregated) with low-specific-activity sodium pertechnetate Tc 99m were associated with failure to meet QA standards. Direct costs of QA testing were slightly less than direct costs associated with not testing; however, consideration of indirect costs confirmed the cost-effectiveness of QA testing. Routine radiochemical QA testing of technetium Tc 99m radiopharmaceuticals appears to be cost-effective.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City
• OSTI ID: 5330326
• Journal Information: Am. J. Hosp. Pharm.; (United States), Journal Name: Am. J. Hosp. Pharm.; (United States) Vol. 5; ISSN AJHPA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

38 RADIATION CHEMISTRY, RADIOCHEMISTRY, AND NUCLEAR CHEMISTRY
400702 -- Radiochemistry & Nuclear Chemistry-- Properties of Radioactive Materials
550601* -- Medicine-- Unsealed Radionuclides in Diagnostics
62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
CHEMISTRY
COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS
DRUGS
HOURS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
INTERMEDIATE MASS NUCLEI
ISOMERIC TRANSITION ISOTOPES
ISOTOPES
LABELLED COMPOUNDS
NUCLEI
ODD-EVEN NUCLEI
QUALITY ASSURANCE
RADIOCHEMISTRY
RADIOISOTOPES
RADIOPHARMACEUTICALS
TECHNETIUM 99
TECHNETIUM ISOTOPES
TESTING
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES