The new standard will offer a more accurate option for equivalent calibration of measurement devices for measuring gallium-68 (Ga-68) and fluorine-18 (F-18)

WEARE, N.H., Feb. 14, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- RadQual, LLC, a premier developer of innovative quality control products for nuclear medicine, SPECT, and positron emission tomography (PET) imaging, is pleased to announce the only dose calibrator standard directly traceable to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) for accurate measurement of gallium-68 and fluorine-18 is now available up to a 1 millicurie (37 MBq) strength.  Fluorine-18 is an important isotope in the radiopharmaceutical industry, and is primarily synthesized into fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) for use in positron emission tomography (PET) scans.  This new RadQual dose calibrator standard will help provide PET scan manufactures and end users a true dose calibrator standard to ensure compliance with many state and federal regulatory standards for accurate calibration of patient dose measurement.

Historically most facilities have been using cesium-137 or sodium-22 standards for Ga-68 and F-18 calibration.  RadQual has conducted a thorough study, in conjunction with NIST, which has determined that the old standards produced a measurement error as high as 17% when trying to measure F-18 doses.

Keith Allberg, RadQual's Director of Manufacturing and Regulatory Affairs said, "We believe our new dose calibrator reference standard will make a significant difference to the industry.  Our continuing study of facilities using or producing Ga-68 and F-18 worldwide indicates those facilities are incorrectly measuring the amount of radionuclide by as much as 19% and 17% respectively.  In addition, the information reported for F-18 has shown as great as a 27% difference between two different competitors' brands of dose calibrators and as much as a 9% difference within the same competitors brand and model.  The well-established practice of using either cesium-137 or sodium-22 for daily calibration of PET radionuclide dose measurement for patient injection is simply inaccurate and could be significantly improved by using the new RadQual calibration standard."    

In other Company news, RadQual LLC recently formed a new joint venture business on a 50-50 ownership basis with International Isotopes, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: INIS), www.intisoid.com, and has acquired the assets of Technology Imaging Services Inc. (TIS).  TIS had been a major distributor of products and services for nuclear medicine, nuclear cardiology, and PET imaging.  In 2009 Technology Imaging had gross revenues of about $6 million.  The new joint venture will be called T I Services LLC.

About RadQual, LLC

RadQual, LLC, is the premier developer of innovative quality control products for the nuclear medicine and PET imaging communities. Founded in 2001, RadQual is the only remaining American owned provider of SPECT imaging radioactive sealed sources for routine quality control. Our quality products are manufactured in Idaho Falls, ID, and distributed worldwide through a select group of dealers and nuclear pharmacies. RadQual is dedicated to the production of quality control devices for medical imaging.

SOURCE RadQual, LLC

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