Hospital pharmacies and other compounding facilities often process radiopharmaceuticals. These radioactive materials can be used for therapeutic applications but are most commonly utilized for diagnostic procedures. The radiopharmacy provides these specialized preparations for use in nuclear medicine. Pharmacists that handle radiopharmaceuticals are also referred to as Nuclear Pharmacists or Radiopharmacists.
The safe handling of radiopharmaceuticals presents an array of safety requirements specific to the radiopharmacy. The facility must be properly equipped to safely prepare and store radioactive components. Many precautions for working with these materials are similar to procedures specified for compounding of hazardous drugs.
According RadioGraphics Journal, “Radiopharmaceuticals are essential to the performance of nuclear medicine procedures. These radioactive drugs consist of two components: a drug component for localization in a specific tissue or organ and a radioactive component for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes. The majority of radiopharmaceuticals are used for diagnostic imaging procedures.”
Rationale for Radiopharmacy Isolators
The proper selection of safety equipment is contingent upon the type of materials that are being handled. Class II Biological Safety Cabinets are sometimes utilized for processing sterile drugs when working in a cleanroom environment. However, Compounding Aseptic Containment Isolators (CACIs) provide the most comprehensive solution for meeting USP 797 requirements and are an ideal alternative to a costly dedicated cleanroom. In CACIs all work occurs inside a closed, pressurized workspace, which is accessible only via a sealed glove system. For the preparation of radiopharmaceuticals there are specialized Compounding Aseptic Containment Isolators known as a Radiopharmacy Isolators.
The Radiopharmacy Isolator is a Containment Primary Engineering Control (C-PEC) designed specifically for handling radiopharmaceuticals. These units are lead shielded to protect the operator. Lead shielding is utilized to attenuate radiation in certain applications because of its high density. Therefore, these lead lined Compounding Aseptic Containment Isolators are a core safety component in the radiopharmacy.
Technical Overview of the Radiopharmacy Isolator
The Radiopharmacy Isolator must be properly designed and engineered to provide maximum protection for the operator, work in progress and the surrounding environment. Germfree’s shielded isolator functions as a Glovebox while operating under negative pressure to meet NIOSH recommendations. The unit is fully compliant with USP 797 regulations for use outside of a cleanroom, adding flexibility to operations that process sterile radiopharmaceuticals.
The Radiopharmacy Isolator has a unidirectional laminar airflow system that maintains ISO 5/Class 100 air quality. The work area of the unit is continuously bathed with unidirectional HEPA-filtered air to protect the product from contamination. This also filters any particulates that are generated by the manipulation of materials. Germfree’s Radiopharmacy Isolator meets or exceeds ISO 14644-1 standard for Class 100 air quality under dynamic conditions.
Due to lack of universal manufacturing standards, it is imperative to select radiopharmaceutical compounding equipment that is engineered to the rigorous demands of working with sterile radiological materials. Germfree’s Radiopharmacy Isolator incorporates ¼” lead shielding to protect the operator from all products being manipulated in the Glovebox/Isolator. Units must undergo a comprehensive testing process to assure they meet the requirements specific to working with radiopharmaceuticals.
Radiopharmacy Isolator Standards and Specifications
Isolators that are suitable for radiopharmaceutical compounding incorporate a range of features, capabilities and technical specifications. These may include:
Radiopharmacy Isolator Features
The viewing window of the Radiopharmacy Isolator is constructed from 46mm thick leaded acrylic
Antechamber System: Sealed two-door airlock maintains complete environmental separation between the work area and the radiopharmacy; HEPA-filtered purge system eliminates cross-contamination when materials are introduced and removed from the Radiopharmacy Isolator.
Radiopharmaceuticals play an important role in nuclear medicine as diagnostic and therapeutic agents. This specialized field presents certain demands on the professional Radiopharmacist. Proper training, SOPs, best practices, quality assurance standards, facility design and safety equipment are integral to any Radiopharmacy operation. The Radiopharmacy Isolator provides the most comprehensive solution for safely compounding radiopharmaceuticals.
For more information please visit our Radiopharmacy Isolators page.
Additional information about radiopharmaceuticals and the practice of nuclear medicine can be found on
The Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) website.
More general information can also be found on these websites:
The American Nuclear Society (ANS)
The European Association of Nuclear Medicine (EANM)
Radiological Society of North America
The National Isotope Development Center (NIDC)
American Society of Health-System Pharmacists
