Validation of a column method for technetium-99m exametazime quality control.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to investigate if an octadecyl (18C) minicolumn could be applied successfully for quality control of 99mTc exametazime (HMPAO). METHODS The 18C column system using saline eluent was validated against the Whatman 17 method in calculating the percent radiochemical purity of 99mTc-HMPAO. The behavior of 99mTc-pertechnetate (99mTc04-) and hydrolyzed-reduced 99mTc (99mTc02) on the column was examined, as well as method reproducibility. RESULTS The column method is reproducible and yields results that are highly comparable to the Whatman 17 method. Technetium-99m-pertechnetate is associated with the eluent, and some 99mTc02 is retained by the column but this level is insignificant to the final patient dose. CONCLUSION The minicolumn system is safe, simple, rapid and reliable for the quality control analysis of routine 99mTCHMPAO preparations.