Technologists Nuclear medicine technologists run medical tests that use radioactive materials. Recent scientific advances have made it possible to use radioactive materials in medical tests. The materials are put into a form that can be given to patients. The amount of the drug that is absorbed by the body helps doctors diagnose illnesses.
Technologists give the materials to patients, either by mouth or an injection.
They use cameras that detect the radioactive drug as it moves through patients' bodies. When the drug reaches the proper spot, technologists take pictures. The cameras that nuclear medicine technologists use are not the same as the cameras used by radiologic technologists. Nuclear medicine technologists print the pictures and show them to doctors. Before they give patients the drugs, technologists explain the procedure.