Patent Number: 
Section: claims

1. In a process for cleaning a radiopharmaceutical reusable pig having a lower portion, a cap, and a syringe or vial containment enclosure, comprising the steps of:scanning the pig with a radiation detection device to detect the presence of radioactivity at a radiation level above background level;upon detecting the presence of radioactivity at said radiation level, causing said pig to cease exhibiting said radioactivity; andsanitizing the pig to destroy any microorganisms and remove any blood contamination from said pig;the improvement comprising the additional steps of:transporting the ceased exhibiting radioactivity and sanitized pig to a drug preparation area suitable for dispensing a drug for human use;within the drug preparation area, inserting a syringe or vial containing a radioactive drug into the containment enclosure and assembling the cap to the lower portion of the pig;within the drug preparation area, placing the assembled pig containing the drug, in a protective outer container to protect the pig from external contamination during handling and transportation; andplacing the protective outer container containing the pig, in a transportation receptacle. 2. The improvement according to claim 1, comprising the additional step of sterilizing or sanitizing the pig after said pig is in the drug preparation area and prior to inserting a syringe or vial into the containment enclosure thereof. 3. The improvement according to claim 1, comprising the additional step of sterilizing or sanitizing the protective outer container before the pig is placed within it. 4. In a process for cleaning a radiopharmaceutical reusable pig having a lower portion, a cap, and a syringe or vial containment enclosure, comprising the steps of:scanning the pig to detect the presence of radio-activity at a radiation level above background level;upon detecting the presence of radioactivity at said radiation level, causing said pig to cease exhibiting said radioactivity; andsanitizing the pig to destroy any microorganisms and remove any blood contamination from said pig;the improvement comprising the additional steps of:transporting the ceased exhibiting radioactivity and sanitized pig to a drug preparation area suitable for dispensing a drug for human use;sterilizing or sanitizing the pig after said pig is in the drug preparation area;within the drug preparation area, inserting a syringe or vial containing a radioactive drug into the containment enclosure and assembling the cap to the lower portion of the pig;within the drug preparation area, sterilizing a protective outer container for the pig;within the drug preparation area, placing the assembled pig containing the drug, in the protective outer container to protect the pig from external contamination during handling and transportation; andplacing the protective outer container containing the pig, in a transportation receptacle. 5. The improvement according to claim 4, comprising the additional steps of:delivering the transportation receptacle to a drug utilization facility;at said facility, removing the outer container from the transportation receptacle;delivering the removed outer container to a drug utilization area within the facility; andwithin the drug utilization area, sterilizing the protective outer container before removing the pig from the container.