ELUTION INSTRUCTIONS - TOTAL ELUTION METHOD

  1. Waterproof gloves should be worn during elution.
  2. Remove dust (clear plastic) cover of generator.
  3. Perform all subsequent operations aseptically.
  4. Remove silicone needle seal from eluant charge well. Discard as radioactive waste.
  5. Remove flip-off seal and swab septum of eluant charge vial with a bactericide (such as 70% isopropyl alcohol), allow to dry, and insert the vial into charge well. Vial should be firmly inserted to assure puncture of septum. Caution: Excessive use of bactericides containing alcohol may adversely affect Technetium Tc 99m yield.
  6. Open elution shield base and insert an eluate collection vial from which the flip-off seal has been removed. Screw base back on securely. Swab the exposed vial septum with a bactericide and allow to dry.
  7. Remove vented needle cover from collect well. Discard as radioactive waste.
  8. Insert shielded eluate collection vial in collect well. Elution should commence within 30 seconds and can be visually checked by the appearance of bubbles in the eluant charge vial. To assure proper yield and functioning, elution must proceed to completion as evidenced by emptying of the charge vial. Allow generator to elute for at least 3 minutes after the charge has been drained, or for a total of 6 minutes.   
****NOTE 1 (non-eluting generator): If bubbles do not appear in the eluant charge vial within 30 seconds, remove the eluate collection vial to prevent vacuum loss; then remove and reinsert the charge vial. Reinsert the eluate collection vial and if elution does not commence, use a second shielded collection vial. If the elution still does not commence, contact Lanthues Medical Imaging, Inc.   
****NOTE 2 (partial eluting generator): If the saline charge vial does not fully empty or the expected eluate volume is not recovered, remove the evacuated collection vial and the saline charge vial. Insert a new saline charge vial and a new evacuated collection vial. Allow the elution process to complete. If the replacement saline charge vial does not fully empty or the expected eluate volume is not recovered in the replacement collection vial, contact Lantheus Medical Imaging, Inc. DO NOT USE ELUATE COLLECTED FROM A PARTIALLY ELUTED GENERATOR.   
Caution: Tampering with the internal components could compromise sterility and present a radiation hazard. This generator should not be dismantled. 
  9. After elution has been completed, remove shield containing the collection vial. Obtain the collect needle seal, and using a bactericide, swab the insertion end of the collect needle seal and insert over the collect needle. The eluant vial is sterile and should stay in place until the next elution, functioning as a seal for the needles within the charge well. Upon initiating the next elution, discard the empty eluant vial as radioactive waste and retain the collect needle seal for subsequent elutions.
  10. Perform the Assay and Radiometric Molybdenum Test Procedures described below for each elution performed.
  11. Fill out and attach the appropriate supplied pressure sensitive radioactivity labels to the elution shield containing the filled eluate collection vial. Do not use an eluate of the Technetium Tc 99m Generator later than 1 working day after the time of elution (12 hours).
  12. Use a shielded syringe when introducing the Sodium Pertechnetate Tc 99m solution into mixing vials.
  13. Maintain adequate shielding during the life of the radioactive preparation by using a lead vial shield and cover, and use a shielded syringe for withdrawing and injecting the preparation.