Indian Journal of Nuclear Medicine

^99mTc generator is a basic necessity of any hospital radiopharmacy. It is available from different types of ^99mTc generator systems. Zirconium molybdate-⁹⁹Mo (Zr⁹⁹Mo) gel (GELTECH) generator is a dual column system consisting of i) primary Zr⁹⁹Mo gel column prepared by converting sodium molybdate-⁹⁹Mo solution into an insoluble gel matrix and ii) secondary acidic alumina purification column, connected in tandem. Simple elution of sodium pertechnetate-^99mTc is performed by passing 10ml of 0.9% NaCl solution through both the columns. A facility for ^99mTc column generator production has been successfully commissioned at BRIT. After obtaining clearance for handling upto 370 GBq (10Ci) ⁹⁹Mo from AERB, trial production and supply to few local hospitals, Radiation Medicine Centre and Regional Radiation Medicine Centres (RRMC) of BRIT have been commenced. 12 batches of geltech generators were prepared in the facility using Dhruva reactor produced (n,ã) ⁹⁹Mo and in one batch (n,ã) ⁹⁹Mo was spiked with imported fission produced ⁹⁹Mo. Generators containing ⁹⁹Mo activity of ∼14.4–44GBq (390–1200mCi) on the date of production were supplied to local hospitals/diagnostic centres situated in Mumbai as well as Regional Radiopharmacy Centres of BRIT in Delhi and Bangalore. One/two generators from each batch were kept at in-house quality control laboratory for complete evaluation of the generator performance and the pertechnetate-^99mTc product quality. ^99mTc activity obtained on the first day of use at the hospitals (2 days post production date) was in the range of ∼11.1–21.8 GBq (300–590 mCi) from the generators. The pertechnetate obtained was used for patient studies after ensuring end sterilization. A wide variety of radiopharmaceuticals including Tc-MDP, Tc-MIBI, Tc-Tetrofosmin Tc-EC, Tc-ECD, Tc-DTPA, Tc-Sulfur colloid, Tc-DMSA, Tc-Mebrofenin, Tc-Phytate, Tc-RBC, were formulated, used in patients and good quality of images were reported from all hospitals. The total number of patient studies reported was 370. Efforts are on to provide sterile Na^99mTcO₄ from the geltech generator and supply higher capacity generators to the users after getting clearance for handling ∼1110GBq (30Ci)⁹⁹Mo in the production facility.