Guide To NIST, July 1998
RADIOPHARMACEUTICAL STANDARDIZATION LABORATORY
Radioactivity measurements for diagnostic and therapeutic nuclear medicine in
the United States are based on measurements at NIST. Activity measurements for
the gamma-ray-emitting radionuclides are made using 4πβ liquid
scintillation spectrometry and 4πγ ionization chamber. The
calibration process also includes identification of radionuclidic impurities by
germanium spectrometry. Recent development work has focused on therapeutic
nuclides for nuclear medicine, radioimmunotherapy, and bone palliation. Future
work will focus on intravascular brachytherapy and diagnostic imaging.
Capabilities: The radiopharmaceutical standardization laboratory
provides calibration services for radionuclides and is
available for technical users who must make measurements consistent with
national standards or who require higher accuracy calibrations than are
available with commercial standards. NIST also undertakes basic research to
develop new methods of standardizing radionuclides for diagnostic and
therapeutic applications. These studies include measurements of decay-scheme
parameters, such as half lives and gamma-ray emission probabilities, and
identification of radionuclidic impurities.
Availability: The customer has no direct use of the facility. NIST staff
can provide calibration services for any previously standardized radionuiclide.
As part of the same program, research associates of the Nuclear Energy Institute
produce standards that are certified by NIST as Standard Reference Materials
for distribution to the radiopharmaceutical user communities.
Contact: Brian
E. Zimmerman
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Ionizing Radiation Division
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