[The Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration (
VHA) National Health Physics Programs] has a master materials license from Nuclear Regulatory Commission. License number is 03-23853-01VA.
Per 10 CFR 20.1906(d), [the VHA] 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 today (February 11, 2013) at around 2:00 PM ET by Carl Vinson VA Medical Center, Dublin, Georgia. This medical center holds permit number 10-09569-01 under the VHA master materials license.
Wipe tests performed on the external surface of the package indicated a removable contamination level of 561 dpm/cm2 as compared to the regulatory limit of 220 dpm/cm2 for beta-gamma emitters.
The package contained two radiopharmaceuticals dosages of Technetium-99m and two doses of Thallium-201 and was shipped from Cardinal Health in Augusta, Georgia. The inner packaging materials were not contaminated, and the four dosages were able to be used.
The VA facility Nuclear Medicine Technologist immediately notified the vendor/shipper, who serves as the final delivery carrier, about the contaminated package at about 2:30 PM ET.
As corrective actions: the packaging materials were set aside in a restricted area at the VA Medical Center for decay; staff with access to the area were notified about the contaminated packaging materials; and surveys were performed to ensure that contamination did not spread beyond the immediate area where the package was received and checked in.
[The
VHA has also] notified NRC Region III (P. Pelke) of this event.