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 Start dateReporting criterionTitleEvent descriptionSystemLER
ENS 5619325 October 2022 07:00:00Agreement StateLeaking Sealed SourceThe following information was provided by the Washington State Department of Health via email: On 10/31/2022, a licensee, University of Washington - License Number: C001-1, reported that a 12.4 mCi Ni-63 source was leaking. The source was part of a Hewlett Packard electron capture detector (ECD) (Hewlett Packard, Model# G1223A, Source Serial # F5941). A pre-disposal wipe test of the ECD contained in a gas chromatograph (Hewlett Packard Model#5890) was performed on 10/25/22 after receiving the gas chromatograph from its owner for disposal. On 10/25/2022, the wipe test results indicated that the ECD had more than 0.005 microcuries of removable contamination. This device will be sent to NRD Static Control, LLC for recycling/disposal. WA incident event number: WA-22-020
ENS 5594414 June 2022 07:00:00Agreement StateAgreement State Report - Lost Then Found I-125 SeedThe following information was received via E-mail: On 6/14/22, one Theragenics, I-125 brachytherapy seed (0.501 mCi) from the inventory was discovered missing. It was one of 10 spare seeds used for a patient prostate implant should they be needed. The inventory of concern was that required for a patient who was implanted with 88 seeds using 16 needles as planned. He did not need any of the spare seeds for his implant. In accord with our standard procedure, five of the 10 spare seeds were prepared in spare needles by one of our radiation oncology dosimetrists, one seed per needle, on Monday, 06/13/22. All prepared needles and loose seeds remained in the hot lab (SP 22244) until the patient's surgery. This means that five loose I-125 seeds should have remained in their transport vial in the hot lab (SP 2244) adjacent to the surgery room (SP 2245). However, when preparing to return the five spare needle prepared seeds to the transport vial, post patient implant, it was evident that there were only four rather than the expected five loose seeds in the vial. I surveyed the hot lab (SP 2244) but could not locate the missing seed in the hot lab or its surrounding area. The five spare needle prepared seeds were returned to the transport vial for a total of nine seeds rather than the inventory of 10. This vial was taken to the radiation oncology hot lab safe. Several surveys were performed of the Surgery Pavilion area (SP 2244) but the seed was not found. On 6/15/2022, the missing I-125 seed (0.501 mCi) was found and returned with the other loose seeds to the 'Medak' vial now located in the radiation oncology hot lab. On an inspired guess, the dosimetrist returned to the SP 2244 hot lab in the prostate pavilion and in a high cupboard searched a steel container used for sterilizing all 10 loose seeds before creating the five spare needles. This is where the missing seed was found. As corrective actions, the unused seeds will be visually counted and the checklist updated to include this process. Washington Incident Number: WA-22-015 THIS MATERIAL EVENT CONTAINS A 'Less than Cat 3' LEVEL OF RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL Sources that are "Less than IAEA Category 3 sources," are either sources that are very unlikely to cause permanent injury to individuals or contain a very small amount of radioactive material that would not cause any permanent injury. Some of these sources, such as moisture density gauges or thickness gauges that are Category 4, the amount of unshielded radioactive material, if not safely managed or securely protected, could possibly - although it is unlikely - temporarily injure someone who handled it or were otherwise in contact with it, or who were close to it for a period of many weeks. For additional information go to http://www-pub.iaea.org/MTCD/publications/PDF/Pub1227_web.pdf
ENS 5567723 December 2021 08:00:00Agreement StateUnderdosing of Patient with YTTRIUM-90 MicrospheresThe following was received from the state of Washington via email. The patient was scheduled to receive three doses of yttrium-90 microspheres (to the liver), but only the first two doses were successfully administered. However, it appears that only five percent of the final dose was administered, and the rest was caught up in the tubing from the vial. The exact radiation dose administered is not known at this time. The licensee will investigate this event further and provide a written report. Washington State Incident Number: WA-21-027 A Medical Event may indicate potential problems in a medical facility's use of radioactive materials. It does not necessarily result in harm to the patient.
ENS 551929 April 2021 07:00:00Agreement StatePatient Underdose

The following information was received from the Washington State Department of Health: University of Washington broad scope license C001 reported a medical event. The event involves Y-90 microspheres contained in two vials of different activity. Vial A and Vial B were to be delivered to different treatment sites. However, the vials were mixed up and the lower activity vial was delivered to the wrong site, the Authorized User (AU) realized it was the wrong vial and did not inject the second vial. This resulted in an underdose of more than 20 percent. A full report is expected in 15 days and will be forwarded. A Medical Event may indicate potential problems in a medical facility's use of radioactive materials. It does not necessarily result in harm to the patient.

  • * * UPDATE ON 04/28/2021 AT 1321 EDT FROM TRISTAN DAY TO BRIAN P. SMITH * * *

The following update is from the report received via e-mail from the Washington State Department of Health: On Friday April 9, 2021, a patient had been prescribed two dosages of yttrium-90 microspheres intended for two different liver treatment sites. One treatment dosage was a larger amount than the other, 35.9 mCi and 21.4 mCi. Both dosages were measured in the Nuclear Medicine CRC 15R dose calibrator prior to use. They were found to be the correctly prescribed amounts and the vials were labelled correctly. Both dosages were transported to the Interventional Radiology suite. When the authorized user (AU) called for the first dosage, the higher of the two activities (35.9 mCi), it was set up and administered, including the required radiation dose rate measurement taken prior to and during the dosing. When the AU called for the second dosage (21.4 mCi), he noticed that the radiation dose rate measurement of the second dosage was higher than it had read for the first administration, which was supposed to be the larger of the two dosages. Realizing that the smaller of the two dosages was mistakenly administered first, the physician stopped the treatment and did not administer the second dosage. It was then confirmed that the patient received the lower of the two dosages (21.4 mCi) to the treatment site that was supposed to receive the higher dosage (35.9 mCi). Nuclear Medicine informed the Environmental Health and Safety Department's (EHS) Medical Health Physicist (MHP), and the MHP subsequently informed the Radiation Safety Officer (RSO). Initially, there were questions regarding the need to evaluate this event as a possible Medical Event. There was uncertainty regarding applying the medical event criteria to both sites together or to each individual site. Additionally, the first treatment site was under-dosed and the AU subsequently had determined that the dose delivered was adequate for that site. After discussing the event with the MHP on Monday morning, April 12, 2021, the RSO requested a meeting with Department of Health (DOH) to discuss the event. The MHP and RSO discussed the event with DOH that afternoon, and DOH informed that it would depend if the written directive included both sites, or if there was a written directive for each site. On Tuesday, April 13, 2021, all the required information was obtained, and the MHP and RSO reviewed the dosage and dose calculations and determined that the medical event criteria was met. The dose delivered is less than prescribed, and will result in no harm to the patient and it is the intention of the physician to treat the second site at some future time. Washington Event Report Number: WA-21-006

ENS 5401315 April 2019 07:00:00Agreement StateAgreement State Report - Leaking Intravascular Brachytherapy Device IdentifiedThe following report was received from the Washington State Department of Health via email: UW (University of Washington) Radiation Safety (RS) conducts semi-annual sealed source leak test during the months of April and October. After analyzing a leak test for a Sr-90 Intravascular Brachytherapy (IVB) device it was found to be leaking. Details provided by the University of Washington radiation safety office are as follows: 'The results of the sample's analysis were reviewed and it was discovered that a sample for one of the IVB source trains indicated contamination at 3737 cpm. A second sample of both IVB source trains was obtained. The sample for the 40 mm source train indicated 177 cpm and the sample for the 60 mm source train indicated 7998 cpm. The RS staff member discussed the contamination with the Radioactive Materials Compliance Manager (RMCM) and the Radiation Safety Officer (RSO). It was then discovered that the leak test procedure specified in the Novoste Beta-Cath User's Manual was not performed correctly. A swab of the water sample obtained during the leak test was analyzed rather than the whole 5 ml of water. The RS staff member performed another leak test of both IVB source trains, and analyzed the 5 ml water samples (The results are provided below). The IVB device was placed out of service and removed from Radiation Oncology. The RS staff member contacted the RSO at Best Vascular who requested the sources and items used for the leak testing be returned to Best Vascular for investigation. 'Radiation Safety counted the 5 ml water samples using one of their liquid scintillation counters (LSC) (Packard Tricarb 2900TR - S/N 426395). Using an efficiency of 100 percent for Sr-90 (Beckman Coulter's Isotope Booklet for Liquid Scintillation Counters - 2002) the activity calculated was: '40 mm source train: 396 counts / min (decays / 1 counts)(min / 60 sec)(Bq*sec / decays) = 6.6 Bq '60 mm source train: 17429 counts / min (decays / 1 counts)(min / 60 sec)(Bq*sec / decays) = 290 Bq 'The activity level of the 60 mm source train leak test sample exceeded the limit of 185 Bq. The contamination in the leak test for the 40 mm source train is believed to be a result of cross contamination from the 60 mm source train leak test.' WA Event Report ID No.: WA-19-013
ENS 5187920 April 2016 07:00:00Agreement StateAgreement State Report - Missing Static Ionization Source

The following report was received from the State of Washington via email: On 4/21/2016, the Radiation Safety Officer at University of Washington reported by phone and by email that a Po-210 static ionization source was missing from a lab at the Southlake Union (SLU) Campus. The static ionization source had been placed in a cardboard box in preparation for shipment back to NRD (manufacturer). Someone in the lab thought the box was empty and placed it in the recycling. This was discovered on Monday, and the lab had been searching for it for a couple of days before notifying the Radiation Safety Officer. The immediate report value for Po-210 is 100 microCi and the 30 day report value is 1 microCi. Source information: Isotope: Po-210, Manufacturer: NRD, Model: P-2001, Initial Activity: 5 mCi (May 2015), Current Activity: approximately 1 mCi Device information: Nuclespot - Static Eliminator, Manufacturer: NRD, Model: P-2042-1000, Serial Number: Not reported. The facilities personnel are currently trying to find out from (the recycling company) where the recycling is taken for processing. (The recycling company) picks up recycling from the SLU campus twice a week on Friday and Tuesday. University of Washington Principal Investigator lab informed NRD of the loss. Once their investigation is complete, UW will provide us (WA Office of Radiation Protection) with a written report as required by WAC 246-221-240(2). Incident Number: WA-16-018

  • * * UPDATE AT 1541 EDT ON 09/18/16 FROM ANINE GRUMBLES TO S. SANDIN * * *

The following information was received from the State of Washington via email: WA-16-018 Po-210 static ionization source missing from University of Washington Update and Closure University of Washington submitted their final report on the lost Po-210 static eliminator. University of Washington is a Broad Scope A Licensee. Their (University of Washington) Radiation Safety staff performed a thorough investigation and search for the source. There are a total of six possible routes the source may have taken; all of which end up overseas. Initially, three potential avenues were explored at Recology CleanScapes:

1. If source stayed inside the box with the paper - processed as corrugated cardboard and sent overseas for recycling processing 2. If paper came out of the box and source stayed with paper - processed as mixed paper and sent overseas for recycling process 3. If paper came out of box and source came out of the paper - source would have filtered out into glass recycling stream (includes metal), which is sent to Strategic Materials. The RSO contacted Strategic Materials and identified an additional three possible outcomes for the source, if it made it to the Strategic Materials facility. 4. All incoming material is first passed by a large magnet, if the source housing was ferrous enough the source would have been transferred to a metal recycler. The source model is believed to have an aluminum housing. 5. If the source was not pulled out by the magnet, it was either manually removed by a picker and thrown in the trash, or 6. The source was pulled out by an Eddy Current device and would be in one of the device collection bins. This also would have been thrown in the trash. Staff at both facilities were shown photos of the source and interviewed, and no one had seen or moved the source. Ultimately, it is believed that the source, thoroughly wrapped in in paper, in a corrugated box was processed and sent overseas in a bulk cardboard or mixed paper recycle bundle. The Registry of Radioactive Sealed Sources and Devices - Safety Evaluation of Device (Number: NY 502 D 108 G) for the P-2042 model indicates an maximum external exposure rate of 0.05 mR/hr on contact with the source. This is equivalent to background radiation levels. It should be noted that the principle emission of Po-210 is an alpha particle, so the exposure falls off rapidly with increasing distance from the source. Therefore, the exposure to any individual handling the source would be negligible. Since Po-210 is an alpha emitter, the highest risk would be to a person who ate the radioactive foil. However, this scenario is extremely unlikely due to the fact that the individual would have to first remove the foil from the housing, and then have a desire to eat the foil. Some new additions to the information: Manufacturer: NRD Inc. Device Type: Nuclespot - Static Eliminator Device Model: P-2042-1000 Sealed Source Model Designation: P-2001 Serial Number: A2KG893 NRD Lease Number: 059345 Shipped to UW: 5/21/2015 Original Activity: 5 millicuries Activity when lost: 1 millicurie This source is considered lost and unrecoverable. The assessed health and safety risk is very low. This incident is considered CLOSED. Notified R4DO (Miller) and NMSS Events Notification via email. THIS MATERIAL EVENT CONTAINS A "LESS THAN CAT 3" LEVEL OF RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL Sources that are "Less than IAEA Category 3 sources," are either sources that are very unlikely to cause permanent injury to individuals or contain a very small amount of radioactive material that would not cause any permanent injury. Some of these sources, such as moisture density gauges or thickness gauges that are Category 4, the amount of unshielded radioactive material, if not safely managed or securely protected, could possibly - although it is unlikely - temporarily injure someone who handled it or were otherwise in contact with it, or who were close to it for a period of many weeks. For additional information go to http://www-pub.iaea.org/MTCD/publications/PDF/Pub1227_web.pdf

ENS 5184931 March 2016 07:00:00Agreement StateAgreement State - Package Containing 40 Millicuries of Ni-63 Reported Missing

The following report was received from the Washington Department of Health via email: (The) RSO (Radiation Safety Officer) of UW (University of Washington) reported on 4/6/2016, that a package containing four 10 mCi electron capture devices (ECDs), a total activity of 40 mCi, went missing on 3/31/2016, while being transported from Sydney airport to Tasmania, Australia on a Quantas flight. Quantas has put a trace out for the missing package. The ECDs were being sent to the Marine National Facility, CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization) Marine Laboratories. The ECDs were to be used in gas chromatographs (GC) on board a marine vessel by a University of Washington researcher for obtaining research results. The GCs were shipped separately and these are not missing. The Radiation Safety Office did obtain an import permit from Australia for the ECD shipment, and can provide that documentation if needed. Device Manufacturer: Shimazdu Scientific Instruments Mini-2 GC Serial Number: 500401 Activity: 0.010 Ci Radionuclide: Ni-63 Device Manufacturer: Shimazdu Scientific Instruments GC-8A Model Number: ECD-8A Serial Number: SS1932 Activity 0.010 Ci Radionuclide: Ni-63 Device Manufacturer: Shimazdu Scientific Instruments GC-8A Model Number: ECD-8A Serial Number: SS1953 Activity: 0.010 Ci Radionuclide: Ni-63 Device Manufacturer: Shimazdu Scientific Instruments GC-8A Model Number: ECD-8A Serial Number: SS2047 Activity: 0.010 Ci Radionuclide: Ni-63 Package was shipped from University of Washington to Australia on 3/23/16. Washington Incident # WA-16-010

  • * * UPDATE AT 1840 EDT ON 04/22/16 FROM JAMES KILLINGBECK TO JOHN SHOEMAKER * * *

The following update was received from the State of Washington via email: On 4/6/2016, the University of Washington (UW) reported the loss of a package containing four electron capture detectors (ECDs). Each ECD contained a 370 MBq (10 mCi) Ni-63 source. The package was being sent from UW to the Marine National Facility, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) Marine Laboratories. The shipment was initiated on 3/23/2016. The package was delivered to the Sydney, Australia, airport on 3/24/016 and was checked in by the airline on 3/24/2016 and 3/26/2016. The airline booked the package on a flight on 3/28/2016. The package became missing on the flight from Sydney to Tasmania, Australia, on 3/31/2016. The airline put a trace on the package. The ECDs were to be used in gas chromatographs (GCs) onboard a marine vessel by a UW researcher. The GCs had been shipped separately and are not missing. The package containing the four electron capture detectors was found on 20 April 2016, and will be shipped to its intended destination. Apparently, the package was misplaced in Sydney, Australia or while in transit in Melbourne, Australia, and it ended up at a freight forwarding company at the Melbourne, Australia airport. The package is being retrieved from the freight forwarding company, will be cleared by customs, and will be shipped to its intended destination in Hobart, Australia. Washington NMED Item Number 160160. Notified R4DO (Gepford) and NMSS Events Notification via email. THIS MATERIAL EVENT CONTAINS A "LESS THAN CAT 3" LEVEL OF RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL Sources that are "Less than IAEA Category 3 sources," are either sources that are very unlikely to cause permanent injury to individuals or contain a very small amount of radioactive material that would not cause any permanent injury. Some of these sources, such as moisture density gauges or thickness gauges that are Category 4, the amount of unshielded radioactive material, if not safely managed or securely protected, could possibly - although it is unlikely - temporarily injure someone who handled it or were otherwise in contact with it, or who were close to it for a period of many weeks. For additional information go to http://www-pub.iaea.org/MTCD/publications/PDF/Pub1227_web.pdf

ENS 5117619 June 2015 07:00:00Agreement StateAgreement State Report - Medical Under DoseThe following was received from the State of Washington via email: This appears to be a medical event. Eleven Y-90 TheraSphere infusions were performed on eight patients. Five of the infusions involved the use of a smaller catheter, and for all five of these infusions the full dosage was not administered. This was determined when the nuclear medicine physician - who was the authorized user for all of the infusions - determined the percentage of dose delivered to the patient was less than 80 percent of the prescribed dose. The percentage of dose delivered calculation was performed in accordance with the procedure provided in the package insert. Waste for all five infusions was imaged using PET/CT and it was determined that a large amount of radioactive material was present at a hub in the catheter. The radiation safety officer was informed, who informed the hospital health physicist. The referring interventional radiology physicians were notified that the percentage of dose delivered was less than 80 percent, and that further investigations were underway. For these five infusions, the difference in prescribed dose and delivered dose for the organ (liver) exceeded 0.5 Sv; and the total dosage delivered differed from the prescribed dosage by 20 percent or more. The licensee is investigating this matter further and will provide a written report to the Washington State Department of Health within 15 days as required. WA Item # WA150003 A Medical Event may indicate potential problems in a medical facility's use of radioactive materials. It does not necessarily result in harm to the patient.
ENS 4954012 November 2013 08:00:00Agreement StateAgreement State Report - Radioactive Material Unaccounted forThe following was received via email from the Washington Dept. of Health, Office of Radiation Protection: Tuesday, November 12, 2013, I (State of WA) received a call from the Radiation Safety Officer of the University of Washington. He informed me that his staff was unable to account for 3.3 mCi of C-14 and 7 mCi of H-3, the sum of several vials (unsealed sources used for research), when reconciling the inventory of an AUI (Authorized Investigator) after he died. The AUI had a radioactive materials authorization at the university for well over 20 years. A staff member investigated the problem and interviewed current and previous laboratory staff in an effort to find the documentation of disposition of the missing material. This is believed to be a paperwork/failure to document issue with no actual loss or release. It will be discussed at their next Radiation Safety Committee meeting which the state will attend on 26 November 2013. The licensee will provide us with a full report by then. It is the C-14 which exceeds the reporting activities. State incident number WA-13-056 THIS MATERIAL EVENT CONTAINS A "LESS THAN CAT 3" LEVEL OF RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL Sources that are "Less than IAEA Category 3 sources," are either sources that are very unlikely to cause permanent injury to individuals or contain a very small amount of radioactive material that would not cause any permanent injury. Some of these sources, such as moisture density gauges or thickness gauges that are Category 4, the amount of unshielded radioactive material, if not safely managed or securely protected, could possibly - although it is unlikely - temporarily injure someone who handled it or were otherwise in contact with it, or who were close to it for a period of many weeks. For additional information go to http://www-pub.iaea.org/MTCD/publications/PDF/Pub1227_web.pdf
ENS 4693131 March 2011 01:00:00Agreement StateAgreement State Report - Extremity Overexposure During Laboratory Work

The following information was provided via e-mail from the Washington State Department of Health, Office of Radiation Protection: A Nuclear Medicine technologist received an overexposure to her extremity dosimeter for March 2011 while working in the basement of the Magnusen Health Sciences Building on the UW Campus. The Extremity Dose was reported as 56,440 mrem. During the month of March, she performed several cell-labeling procedures involving 75mCi, 111mCi, and 108mCi amounts of Y-90. There were also several labeling procedures involving the use of I-131 during the same time frame. However, because the whole body badge showed no significant exposure, it is believed the majority of the exposure came from the technologist's work with Y-90. Licensee: University of Washington City and State: Seattle, WA License Number: WN-C001-1 Type of License: Broad A Date and time of Event: March 1 - March 30, 2011 Location of Event: UW Magnusen Health Sciences Building Investigation is ongoing. Washington Report #WA-11-030

  • * * UPDATE ON 7/19/11 AT 1330 EDT TO HUFFMAN FROM THE STATE OF WASHINGTON VIA E-MAIL * * *

On 6 June 2011, the department (Washington Division of Radiation Protection) received notification via letter from the University of Washington (UW) that an employee, had received an extremity dose to the left hand of 56,440 mrem from Yttrium 90 for the month of March 2011. The department (Washington Division of Radiation Protection) was notified that the employee retired in May 2011. An incident number WA-11-030 was assigned to the event. UW informed the technician of the overexposure and she agreed to meet to discuss the incident. On 15 June 2011, a Health Physicist from the Department of Health met with the UW RSO, a UW Health Physicist, and the technician to discuss the incident. The Y-90 comes in bulk and must be divided into smaller aliquots based on the desired dose for cell labeling. These aliquots must be handled several times during the cell labeling procedure by the technician. The small size of the aliquot tubes made it too difficult to use tongs or other devices that might have lessened their exposure during these parts of the procedures. Most of this work was done in a hood behind shielding so that the whole body dose remained normal. Because the technician is right-handed, she would most often hold the tube containing the Y-90 in the left hand so she could use their right hand to add reagents or pipette the Y-90 solution into another tube. Although the exposure to the right hand did not exceed the annual limit, it was also unusually high for the month of March, 10.85 REM. The technician stated that there was no spill or other unusual occurrence during the month of March. It is highly unusual to do multiple labeling procedures in a one month period and March 2011 is the only time she has done three in one month. The amounts received, 75mCi, 111mCi, and 108 mCi were also larger than average. There were also several procedures involving the use of large doses, up to 1 Ci, of I-131 in March. However, this was not out of the ordinary for the technician so it is believed to be more likely that the multiple labeling procedures involving Y-90 contributed to exceeding the annual exposure limit to the left hand. Although, the technician is required to do surveys of the lab, the lab only has access to a GM detector and the area readings in the lab are often higher than background because of the large quantities of nuclides on hand. It is difficult for the technician to determine if contamination exists because of these high area readings. No swipe surveys are done by the technician. Swipe surveys are done by the radiation safety office staff. The last survey in which swipes were taken was January 2011. No contamination was noted at that time. The dose reconstruction was done to verify that the technician could in fact have received the reported dose given the time frame the technician was working with the Y-90. The dose reconstruction was also done to eliminate the possibility that the dose recorded by the ring dosimeter could have been caused by the ring being contaminated by Y-90 and that contamination remaining on the dosimeter. It was concluded by the UW RSO and the department (Washington Division of Radiation Protection) that handling these amounts of Y-90 could result in a dose of 56.4 REM in a very short period of time. Therefore, it is the conclusion of this investigation that the reported exposure is real. As a result of this investigation, the technician has been informed that she cannot work in an environment which would further contribute to her 2011 radiation dose. Because she is retired and no longer employed as a radiation worker at any facility, this should not be a hardship. It was determined that although the technician received an exposure above the legal limit, it is unlikely to result in any adverse health effects and no medical intervention is warranted. The Y-90 labeling has been halted at UW. No other person has done a labeling of this kind since the technician's retirement. No further work of this kind will take place at UW until a complete reworking of the procedures is completed and submitted to the Department, and their own RSC, for approval. This incident is closed. R4DO (Campbell) and FSME EO (Zelac) have been notified.

ENS 411825 November 2004 08:00:00Agreement StateAgreement State Report Due to Loss of Iodine-125 Calibration Seeds

On Monday morning, 8 November 2004, the licensee reported a loss of 16 Iodine-125 calibration seeds, Amersham Model 6711, total of 193 mega Becquerel (5.216 milliCi), packaged in 2 vials. The vials contained 6 and 10 seeds respectively. Each vial was inside a lead shield.

The missing calibration seeds had been received on 5 November. They arrived in the same package as medical therapy seeds. The licensee's medical physicist removed the therapy seeds and placed them into secured storage assuming that the calibration and therapy seeds were all contained in the vials the physicist was removing. However, the calibration seeds were reported by the vendor to have been in additional vials associated with the foam packing material. The cardboard package and packing foam is routinely sent to the licensee's recycle center once the licensed material has been removed. This probably happened (including the calibration seeds) some time shortly after the physicist opened the package on 5 November. On 8 November, the medical physicist realized the calibration seeds were not with the therapy seeds. The physicist reported their loss to the licensee's Radiation Safety Officer. Licensee staff surveyed the receipt area, the recycle center as well as the corridors connecting the areas and other likely spots. The lost material has not been located. The waste material had apparently been removed from the facility on 7 November. It is likely the lost material went to the landfill on 7 November. The licensee is still investigating. The licensee will send the department a formal report when their investigation is complete. Contributing factor: The licensee failed to perform an acceptable package receipt survey. Corrective actions: Will be addressed during the department's investigation. No media contact: None yet. WA Event Report # WA-04-066