ENS 54547
ENS Event | |
|---|---|
12:10 Feb 27, 2020 | |
| Title | Non-Agreement State Report - Externally Contaminated Package |
| Event Description | The following was received from the Veterans Health Administration via E-mail:
Per 10 CFR 20.1906(d), Veterans Health Administration (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 Thursday, February 27, 2020, at around 0710 EST by the North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System [Permit No.: 0912467-02] in Gainesville, Florida. This facility holds permit number 09-12467-02 under the VHA master materials license. The package was checked-in and surveyed upon receipt around 0710 EST. Wipe tests performed on the external surface of the entire package indicated a removable contamination level of around 560 dpm/cm2 as compared to the regulatory limit of 240 dpm/cm2 for beta-gamma emitters. Removable contamination level on the bottom surface of the package, indicated a removable contamination level of around 413 dpm/cm2 as compared to the regulatory limit of 240 dpm/cm2 for beta-gamma emitters. The package contained three unit doses consisting of a 6 mCi dose of Tc-99m Mebrofenin (calibrated for 1330), a 25 mCi dose of Tc-99m Sestamibi (calibrated for 0930), and a 1 mCi dose of Tc-99m Sulfur Colloid (calibrated for 0800). The dosage was shipped from Triad Isotopes, out of Jacksonville, Florida, who was also the delivery carrier. The facility Radiation Safety Officer immediately notified the delivery carrier by phone about the contaminated package around 0730 EST. The patient dosages inside the package were not impacted and were able to be used. As corrective actions, the packaging materials were bagged in plastic and set aside in a restricted area at the facility. VHA National Health Physics Program, who manages the master materials license, was notified of the incident around 0840 EST. In addition, the licensee is notifying their NRC Region III project manager (Parker) of the event by inclusion in this email. The external contamination was Tc-99m and the package will be held until the isotope has decayed prior to returning it to the pharmacy.
The following is a synopsis of information received via E-mail: Reporting Organization: State of Florida Bureau of Radiation Control NRC Notified By: Matthew Senison Licensee: Jubilant DraxImage Radiopharmacies, Inc. City, State: Jacksonville, Florida License Number: 4587-5 Jubilant, Jacksonville received a call from the VHA in Gainesville, Florida about a delivery bag which had been delivered around 0710 EST that was contaminated on the outside. Jubilant, Jacksonville then notified their RSO who notified Jubilant's corporate RSO. Jubilant, Jacksonville personnel reviewed surveys and DOT documentation and found no removable contamination. They immediately pulled all six carts that are used in the pharmacy and wipe tested and surveyed each cart using a single channel analyzer and found only background. The driver is a third party (MDS) and had just returned. Jubilant, Jacksonville personnel surveyed and wipe tested the entire van and found it to also be at background. The Jubilant, Jacksonville RSO then called the VHA's RSO to relay that three patient doses were in the bag and no removable contamination had been found in the bag nor on the doses. VHA's RSO stated that she was notifying the NRC who would notify BRC. Since the NRC report shows the activity was Tc-99m, and neither party could find the source; at this point greater than five half-lives have passed, so there are no current plans to deploy investigators to either facility at this time. Florida Incident Number: FL20-023 (2) Notified R1DO (Ferdas), R3DO (Orth), and the NMSS Events Notification E-mail group. |
| Where | |
|---|---|
| Veterans Health Administration North Little Rock, Arkansas (NRC Region 4) | |
| License number: | 03-23853-01VA |
| Organization: | Veterans Health Administration |
| Reporting | |
| 10 CFR 20.1906(d)(1) | |
| Time - Person (Reporting Time:+-1.53 h-0.0638 days <br />-0.00911 weeks <br />-0.0021 months <br />) | |
| Opened: | Kim Wiebeck 10:38 Feb 27, 2020 |
| NRC Officer: | Ossy Font |
| Last Updated: | Feb 27, 2020 |
| 54547 - NRC Website | |
Veterans Health Administration with 10 CFR 20.1906(d)(1) | |
WEEKMONTHYEARENS 551242021-03-05T16:32:0005 March 2021 16:32:00
[Table view]10 CFR 20.1906(d)(1) Non-Agreement State Report - Externally Contaminated Package ENS 545472020-02-27T12:10:00027 February 2020 12:10:00 10 CFR 20.1906(d)(1) Non-Agreement State Report - Externally Contaminated Package ENS 506432014-11-26T16:00:00026 November 2014 16:00:00 10 CFR 20.1906(d)(1) Receipt of a Package with Removable Surface Contamination 2021-03-05T16:32:00 | |