A radioisotope generator comprising: an outer container in which is located a shielded container, said shielded container comprising an upper opening which is closed by a container plug, wherein said shielded container surrounds a tube containing an ion exchange column, and wherein said tube has frangible rubber seals and at opposing ends and which, when in use, are pierced by respective hollow needles and that are in fluid communication with a respective fluid conduits and that are in turn in fluid communication with an eluent inlet and an eluate outlet respectively, and wherein conduit passes through a channel in container plug, and then extends from the container plug to the eluent inlet and wherein conduit passes through a channel in the shielded container to the eluate outlet; a top plate which is sealingly secured to said outer container, wherein said top plate has a pair of apertures through which respective eluent inlet and eluate outlet components project, wherein each of said eluent inlet and eluate outlet components is a hollow spike consisting of an elongate, generally cylindrical, spike body and an annular retaining plate, wherein the opposing end of said spike body is shaped to a point and has an aperture communicating with the interior of the spike body adjacent the point, and wherein said annular retaining plate forms a skirt projecting outwardly from the spike body; wherein for said eluant inlet component the hollow spike has two holes, one for the passage of fluid and one that is connected to a filtered air inlet; and wherein each hollow spike is arranged to be held and supported by its annular retaining plate by component supports provided on the inside of said top plate; and, a separate top cover which is secured to said outer container over said top plate, wherein said top cover also includes a pair of apertures arranged so as to align with the apertures in said top plate and shaped to allow through passage of each spike body, wherein each of the apertures is located at the bottom of a well that is shaped to receive and support either an isotope collection vial or a saline supply vial. an outer container in which is located a shielded container, said shielded container comprising an upper opening which is closed by a container plug, wherein said shielded container surrounds a tube containing an ion exchange column, and wherein said tube has frangible rubber seals and at opposing ends and which, when in use, are pierced by respective hollow needles and that are in fluid communication with a respective fluid conduits and that are in turn in fluid communication with an eluent inlet and an eluate outlet respectively, and wherein conduit passes through a channel in container plug, and then extends from the container plug to the eluent inlet and wherein conduit passes through a channel in the shielded container to the eluate outlet; a top plate which is sealingly secured to said outer container, wherein said top plate has a pair of apertures through which respective eluent inlet and eluate outlet components project, wherein each of said eluent inlet and eluate outlet components is a hollow spike consisting of an elongate, generally cylindrical, spike body and an annular retaining plate, wherein the opposing end of said spike body is shaped to a point and has an aperture communicating with the interior of the spike body adjacent the point, and wherein said annular retaining plate forms a skirt projecting outwardly from the spike body; wherein for said eluant inlet component the hollow spike has two holes, one for the passage of fluid and one that is connected to a filtered air inlet; and wherein each hollow spike is arranged to be held and supported by its annular retaining plate by component supports provided on the inside of said top plate; and, a separate top cover which is secured to said outer container over said top plate, wherein said top cover also includes a pair of apertures arranged so as to align with the apertures in said top plate and shaped to allow through passage of each spike body, wherein each of the apertures is located at the bottom of a well that is shaped to receive and support either an isotope collection vial or a saline supply vial.