On March 30, 2007 a patient was given 5 millicuries of
Iodine-131 to his thyroid. On April 2, 2007 the patients thyroid was removed and processed by the Lab. The thyroid was kept by the Sentara CarePlex Hospital located in Hampton,
VA for 2 weeks in case there were pathology questions. On either April 16 or 17, 2007 the thyroid was sent to Stericycle Autoclave Facility located in Baltimore,
MD. Stericycle Autoclave Facility, received the thyroid on April 17, 2007 and discovered that the thyroid was still radioactive. Sentara CarePlex was informed of this and they contacted one of their contractor
RSOs. The
RSO picked up the thyroid and has stored it for future disposition. The thyroid was calculated to have 200 microcuries of
Iodine-131 as of April 17, 2007.
- * * RETRACTION FROM SANDY WOLFF TO JOE O'HARA AT 1601 ON 5/18/07 * * *
Sandy Wolff, a Radiation Safety Officer for Sentara, spoke to Sandy Gabriel, NRC Region I and was told that this is not a reportable event. Since the administration of the radionuclide was not intended to remove the patients thyroid gland, Ms. Wolff was told that the licensee is not expected to keep track of the removed organ.
Notified R1DO (Perry) and Cynthia Flannery (
FSME).