Technologist radiation exposure and patient safety improved with automated FDG dosage preparation and injection system

2655 Objectives Assess technologist radiation dose benefit using a Trasis Unidose system. Evaluate system USP 797 compliance, patient / technologist safety and overall institutional satisfaction. Methods Real-time radiation exposure was measured with RadEye G [1] personal detectors worn by 6 technologists during preparation and administration of FDG dosages first without and subsequently with benefit of a Unidose system. Detectors recorded exposure data every 25 seconds throughout the monitored work days. Technologists logged their activities into categories: dosage draw/injection, patient positioning, patient transport, patient care or non-specific. A detector also monitored Unidose surface radiation exposure during dosage preparation. Patient, technologist and radiation safety staff satisfaction was assessed. Results Average radiation dose decreased 75% for dose draw and 70% for dose injection. Qualitatively, instead of dosage draw/injection, patient positioning became the most significant contributing factor to overall dose. Average daily dose was ≈ 0.03 mSv; an average 36% reduction [2, 3]. Staff typically received 0.007 mSv from dose draw/injection, 0.005 mSv from patient transport, 0.013 mSv from patient positioning, 0.001 mSv from patient care, and 0.003 mSv from non-specific per working day. This correlates to 8 mSv annually; ≈16% of the 50 mSv occupational dose limit. Measured dose indicates a single or fewer technologists could easily handle all daily FDG dosage preparation and injection activities. Unidose assured USP 797 compliance and is a highly portable extremely efficient easy to use system. Patient and technologist safety was greatly enhanced with a high level of patient, technologist and institutional satisfaction. Conclusions Unidose dramatically reduced technologist radiation exposure to levels well below annual occupational radiation worker limits. Patients, technologists and radiation safety personnel are highly satisfied with this approach to preparing and administering patient specific FDG dosages in a busy PET imaging clinic. Research Support The Trasis Unidose system was purchased by the hospital. This study was supported internally solely by the hospital and radiation safety services.