View source for PNO-IV-97-025, on 970502,excessive Dose Rates on Incoming Package Containing I-131 Capsule Occurred.Initial Surveys of Package,Performed in Accordance W/Hosp Procedures,Revealed Surface Dose Rate of Greater than 10 M/H

{{Adams
| number = ML20138G055
| issue date = 05/02/1997
| title = PNO-IV-97-025:on 970502,excessive Dose Rates on Incoming Package Containing I-131 Capsule Occurred.Initial Surveys of Package,Performed in Accordance W/Hosp Procedures,Revealed Surface Dose Rate of Greater than 10 M/H
| author name = Hackney C, Howell L
| author affiliation = NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION &amp; ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION IV)
| addressee name = 
| addressee affiliation = 
| docket = 03012143
| license number = 
| contact person = 
| document report number = PNO-IV-97-025, PNO-IV-97-25, NUDOCS 9705060153
| document type = PRELIMINARY NOTIFICATION OF EVENT OR OCCURRENCE (PNO,, TEXT-INSPECTION &amp; AUDIT &amp; I&amp;E CIRCULARS
| page count = 2
}}
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May ' 2,1997 i
PRELIMINARY NOTIFICATION OF EVENT OR UNUSUAL OCCURRENCE PNO-IV-97-025                                                   i This preliminary notification constitutes EARLY notice of events of POSSIBLE safety or public interest significance. The information is as initially                                                 i received without verification or evaluation, and is basically all that is                                               !
known by Region IV staff in Arlington, Texas on this date.                                                             !
Facility                                      Licensee Emeraency Classification                                        ;
St. James Community Hospital                              Notification of Unusual Event St. James Community Hospital                              Alert                                                        ;
400 S. Clark Street                                  Site Area Emergency                                                '
Butte, Montana 59702                                   General Emergency                                               (
Dockets: 03012143 License No: 25-13173-02 X Not Applicable l

==Subject:==
EXCESSIVE DOSE RATES ON INCOMING PACKAGE CONTAINING IDOINE-131 CAPSULE j
At approximately 12:30 p.m. (EDT) on May 2,1997, St. James Community Hospital notified                                 j the NRC Operations Center that a package was received at its facility on May 2 which                                     I appeared to have higher than expected radiation levels when surveyed upon receipt. The                                 {
technical staff at the hospital received a package containing a 17 millicurie iodine 131 capsule                       {
(calibrated for 1 p.m., PDT, on May 2,1997) from a Syncor International Corporation                                     i pharmacy in Spokane, Washington at approximately 10:00 a.m. (MDT).                                                    -)
initial surveys of the package, performed in accordance with hospital procedures, revealed a surface dose rate of greater than 10 millirem per hour. The technologist who performed the survey collected removable contamination samples from the exterior of the package which were subsequently analyzed and determined to show no evidence of contamination                                          j on the exterior of the package. The technologist reported that the exterior of the package appeared to have no damage and that tape used to seal the package was stillintact upon receipt. When the package was opened, the technologist found that the iodine-131 capsule had fallen out of the lead container used to shield the capsule during transport and had been partially crushed underneath the container. The technologist noted that most of the capsule material was still within the gelatin capsule and verified this by measurement in a dose calibrator. The capsule and packaging was collected and placed in a secured area for                                ,
decay-in-storage.                                                                                                 '
St. James Community Hospital notified the Syncor pharmacy of its findings so that dose evaluations could be performed for individuals who may have come in contact with the                                     i package during transportation. The package was delivered to the hospital by Fed Ex, but                                 ;
hospital personnel were unaware of the route of transport from the pharmacy or of how many                               '
individuals may have come in contact with the package.
The state of Washington has been notified and plans to conduct an inspection at the Syncor pharmacy later today. The state of Montana has also been notified of this event.
9705060153 PDR      I&E             970502 PNO-IV-97-025 PDR                                                                                        \6 b

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I                               Region IV received notification of this occurrence by telephone from the NRC Operations Center at 12:30 p.m. (CDT) and has confirmed this information with personnel at St. James i
                              - Community Hospital. This PNO-IV-97-025 information is current as of 1:30 p.m. (CDT) May 2, .                   ;
1997. Region IV has informed OSP and NMSS.                                                                     1

==Contact:==
LINDA L. HOWELL-                     CHARLES A. HACKNEY-(817)860-8213               (817)860-8267 i
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