The following was received from the Veterans Health Administration (
VHA) via E-mail:
Per 10 CFR 20.1906(d), VHA National Health Physics Program is reporting receipt of a package of radioactive material with removable surface contamination on the outside of the package greater than NRC reporting limits. The package was received Friday, March 5, 2021, at 1032 CST at the Robert J. Dole VA Medical Center in Wichita, Kansas. This facility operates as a satellite location of the VA St. Louis Health Care System which holds permit number 24-00144-05 under the VHA master materials license.
The package was checked-in and surveyed upon receipt around 1032 CST. Three wipe tests performed on the external surface of the package indicated a removable contamination level that exceeded the regulatory limit of 240 dpm/cm2 for beta-gamma emitters (reported as 13,000 - 45,000 dpm/300 cm2 not corrected for wipe efficiency).
The package contained two unit doses of F-18. Analysis of the wipe test confirmed a 511 keV peak associated with positron emission tomography (PET) material. Two wipe tests of the interior of the delivery package resulted in levels below background. The patient dosages inside the package were not impacted and were able to be used.
The dosage was shipped from Cardinal Health out of 410 S. Emporia St., Wichita, Kansas, which was also the delivery carrier. The facility Nuclear Medicine Technologist (NMT) immediately notified the delivery carrier by phone about the contaminated package at 1040 CST. The radiopharmacy notified the facility at 1100 CST that the driver and transport vehicle had been surveyed with no contamination noted.
This package is the last delivery of the day. Because of the short half-life of F-18, the package will remain on the delivery rack for decay and will be returned to the Radiopharmacy on Monday. The NMT will perform extensive end of the day wipe tests in the hot lab to ensure contamination has not spread.
VHA National Health Physics Program, who manages the master materials license, was notified of the incident around 1130
CST.