The following information was received via email from the State of Oklahoma:
The State of Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality [DEQ] was notified by Saint Francis Health System (OK-07163-01) that they have received a package with removable contamination on the exterior. The dose rate when surveyed is reported at 70 mR/hr, the wipe count was 400,000 cpm. The package contained an unknown amount of Sirtex Y-90 SirSpheres. The microsphere container is reported to be intact, and it appears that the contamination was spilled on the package after it was closed. The licensee is analyzing the wipe on an MCA [multi channel analyzer] to determine if the contamination is Y-90 or another nuclide.
The carrier who delivered the package is unknown at this time.
- * * UPDATE PROVIDED BY KEVIN SAMPSON TO JEFF ROTTON AT 1632 EDT ON 10/16/2015 * * *
The following information was received via email from the State of Oklahoma:
The contamination on the package has been identified as Tc-99m, not Y-90. The contamination was limited to a [common carrier shipping] label applied to the package at the [common carrier] facility in Boston, MA. The package was transported from Boston to Dallas, TX by [common carrier airline], then by truck from Dallas to Saint Francis. The trucking company was contacted by the licensee and the truck driver was scanned at a local hospital in Dallas yesterday; results were negative. Wipe tests of the interior of the package confirm no contamination. The package was surveyed today by DEQ inspectors and the dose rate was 2 Mr/hr. The package is being held for decay in storage at the licensee facility.
Notified R4DO (Miller) and
NMSS Events Notification group via email.