St. Vincent Hospital received a package with surface contamination levels excess of Department Of Transportation 49 CFR 173.443 required levels. The package was an expected shipment of
Iodine 131 for hospital use. The Hospital identified the contaminant via exterior swipe surveys as
Technetium 99m at levels in excess of 5200 decays per minute per 100 centimeters squared. The integrity of the package was not compromised. No contamination was found on the interior of the package. The hospital called the shipper, Cardinal Health Systems, to notify them of the contamination found and has isolated the package in a controlled area.
- * * UPDATE FROM WROBLEWSKI TO SNYDER AT 1427 ON 4/24/06 * * *
The licensee is retracting this event based on the fact that the reported surface contamination levels are not above the DOT limits referenced above.
Notified
NMSS (Morell), R3DO (Peterson).