The licensee reported that at approximately 1130 am the physicist was involved in removal of
cesium 137 seeds from an implant The seeds were counted and accounted for in the patient's room after removal. They were then brought to the radiation oncology hot lab for placement into the safe. While removing them from the "Heyman Carrier" the physicist encountered some difficulty with one of the seeds which resulted in its being "flung" behind the counter in the hot lab and "lost." The Radiation Safety Office was notified and an initial search for the seed (activity 10 mg Ra equivalent - 25 millicuries) did not locate it.
The same afternoon the
RSO presumably located the seed lodged in the crack of the counter. Because of its location the counter was required to be taken apart. The State was informed by
RSO on April 26, 2004 that final retrieval will be made in approximately two weeks when they receive their new counter table and safe so that the remaining seeds can be removed and present counter cut to retrieve the lost seed.