The following information was received from the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania via fax:
Notifications: Licensee emailed notification to the Department's [Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection] South Central Regional Office on March 2, 2011. This was initially evaluated as not exceeding the limits of � 71.47; however, further assessment determined it as an immediate reporting event under 20.1906(d)(1).
Event Description: On March 1, 2011, a Nuclear Medicine Technologist from Geisinger logged in a package from Triad Isotopes radio pharmacy. Exposure on the surface of one of the containers labeled White I was measured to be 14 mR/hr. The contamination was found to be limited to the handle of the package. The inside of the container and its contents were not contaminated. The contents were removed and the empty contaminated package was double bagged and placed in decay storage.
According to calculations provided by the licensee, the initial net wipe reading of the handle area on the suspect package was 10,670 dpm for an area of 6 [inch] x 1.5 [inch] or 15 cm x 3. 8 cm. Assuming a 10% wipe efficiency, the activity per unit area was 1,840 dpm/cm2 (0.8 mCi/cm2), which exceeded the maximum permissible limit of 220 dpm/cm2 as noted in � 71.47.
Cause Of The Event: Cross-contamination from the radio pharmacy.
Actions: The Department called Triad Isotopes on March 2, 2011. It was stated that the driver, vehicle, and all other areas that the driver and the package came into contact with, were surveyed and no contamination was found. Triad Isotopes confirmed that the shipment met the requirements of the Radioactive White I when it left and only contained 20 mCi of Tc-99m. No further actions were taken.
PA Event Report ID No. PA110005