Standardization of 68(Ge+Ga)

Appl Radiat Isot. 2004 Feb-Apr;60(2-4):429-31. doi: 10.1016/j.apradiso.2003.11.054.

Abstract

The radionuclide 68Ga is mainly a positron emitter (89.2%), with a half-life of 67.7 min. It is used in nuclear medicine, being chemically extracted from the mixture 68(Ge+Ga); its precursor, 68Ge, disintegrates 100% by electron capture, with a half-life of 270.8d (Table of radionuclides, comments and Evaluation). A 4pibeta-gamma coincidence method was used for standardization, with a 4pi proportional beta-detector and a NaI(Tl) gamma detector. Registration of the capture radiations was avoided using foil absorption and a high beta threshold. Using supplementary foils for positron absorption, extrapolation graphs were obtained, with a mean slope of -4.4%. Care was taken to compensate for the loss of 68Ge during the preparation of solid sources for measurement. A combined uncertainty of 1.1% was estimated.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Evaluation Study
  • Validation Study

MeSH terms

  • Algorithms*
  • Complex Mixtures / analysis
  • Complex Mixtures / standards
  • Gallium Radioisotopes / analysis*
  • Gallium Radioisotopes / standards*
  • Gamma Rays
  • Germanium / analysis*
  • Germanium / standards*
  • Half-Life
  • Radioisotopes / analysis
  • Radioisotopes / standards
  • Reference Standards*
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Spectrometry, Gamma / methods*
  • Spectrometry, Gamma / standards*

Substances

  • Complex Mixtures
  • Gallium Radioisotopes
  • Radioisotopes
  • Germanium