As a critical step toward elucidating the mechanism of localization of Tc-99m (V) dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA), we investigated its binding and transport in blood in comparison with Ga-67 citrate. The studies were performed in vitro by incubating Tc-99m (V) DMSA with blood (one sample at 4 degrees Celcius and another at 37 degrees Celcius) to assess its binding to plasma proteins using ultrafiltration, dialysis, electrophoresis, gel filtration chromatography and affinity chromatography. A parallel experiment for determining the blood binding of Ga-67 citrate was performed using the same procedures. Using ultrafiltration, dialysis, electrophoresis and gel filtration chromatography, labeled plasma samples showed that protein binding for Tc-99m (V) DMSA was 45-54% at 37 degrees Celcius and 73-80% at 4 degrees Celcius. The figures for Ga-67 citrate were 43-53% at 37 degrees Celcius and 75-81% at 4 degrees Celcius. Electrophoresis showed that Tc-99m (V) DMSA was mostly bound to plasma albumin (36.05 +/- 2.48% at 37 degrees Celcius and 60.04 +/- 1.87% at 4 degrees Celcius), and that the proportion of Ga-67 radioactivity associated with beta-globulin was 34.23 +/- 1.37% at 37 degrees Celcius and 55.71 +/- 3.69% at 4 degrees Celcius. In affinity chromatography experiments, Tc-99m (V) DMSA did not bind to transferrin, unlike Ga-67 citrate. This study demonstrates that, at the radiopharmaceutical tracer level, most Tc-99m (V) DMSA in blood is protein-bound, primarily to albumin, but not to transferrin. In contrast, Ga-67 citrate was bound primarily to transferrin. The knowledge that albumin is the main transport protein of Tc-99m (V) DMSA may contribute to a better understanding of its biodistribution and pharmacokinetics.