High pressure liquid chromatographic assay of technetium in solutions of sodium pertechnetate produced at the AAEC Research Establishment.

Abstract

High pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) is used for the assay of nanogram quantities of technetium and to determine technetium in decayed pharmaceutical products derived from three methods of manufacture. These methods of manufacture give comparably low levels of technetium-99 at the time of collection of the solution. However when the solutions are used to produce ready-to-inject technetium-99m high levels of technetium-99 are present at the time of calibration which is the day after the collection date. Where sensitive reagent kits are to be labelled freshly collected solutions of technetium-99m should be used. The HPLC assay is a valuable technique for the quality control of technetium-based radiopharmaceuticals and for investigation of methods of manufacture of technetium-99m. Experimental studies confirmed the findings of previous workers.