METHOD AND REAGENT FOR MAKING A RADIOPHARMACEUTICAL COMPOSITION BASED ON TECHNETIUM - 99M

摘要

A method of making a radiopharmaceutical composition by mixing an aqueous solution of pertechnetate with a reducing agent comprising tin metal or stannous ion to reduce the pertechnetate and a complexing agent to form a complex with the reduced technetium, is characterized by incorporating nitrate and/or nitrite in an amount to diminish oxidation of Sn2+to Sn4+, and hence to prevent re-oxidation of technetium to pertechnetate, during preparation and storage of the complex. Nitrate and nitrite are superior to organic antioxidants previously proposed. A reagent for the purpose comprises the reducing agent, the complexing agent and the nitrate and/or nitrite usually in a sterile freeze-dried state.