Pharmacy Department - Northampton General Hospital

Radiopharmacy

Service Provided

The Aseptic Services staff in the Pharmacy provides a Radiopharmacy Service. This involves the preparation of sterile solutions of radiopharmaceuticals, which are injected into patients prior to imaging by gamma cameras in the Nuclear Medicine Department. A range of radiopharmaceuticals are prepared according to which organ of the body the Radiologists wish to image.

Radiopharmacy Environment

The Radiopharmacy is located in a purpose built cleanroom facility located in the Nuclear Medicine Department. Actual manufacturing of the radiopharmaceuticals takes place in a self-contained workstation, especially designed to protect the operator from excessive exposure to the radioactive products, and to ensure that the final preparation is sterile.

Preparation of Radiopharmaceuticals

Radiopharmaceuticals are prepared by adding a solution of Technetium, a radioactive element obtained from a special generator, to a vial containing a pharmaceutical compound. Approximately 120 vials containing the resulting Technetium labelled pharmaceuticals are prepared each month to supply over 400 individual patient doses.

Staffing

The Radiopharmacy is operated by two Pharmacy Technicians and the resultant radiopharmaceuticals are checked by a Pharmacist prior to being released for injection to the patient. Roughly half of the prepared doses are supplied to the Nuclear Medicine Department at Kettering General Hospital.

If you would like any further information contact Elaine Davies, Principal Pharmacist, Aseptic Services on 01604 545703.

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