Validation of a column method for technetium-99m exametazime quality control.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate if an octadecyl (18C) minicolumn could be applied successfully for quality control of 99mTc exametazime (HMPAO). METHODS: The 18C column system using saline eluent was validated against the Whatman 17 method in calculating the percent radiochemical purity of 99mTc-HMPAO. The behavior of 99mTc-pertechnetate (99mTc04-) and hydrolyzed-reduced 99mTc (99mTc02) on the column was examined, as well as method reproducibility. RESULTS: The column method is reproducible and yields results that are highly comparable to the Whatman 17 method. Technetium-99m-pertechnetate is associated with the eluent, and some 99mTc02 is retained by the column but this level is insignificant to the final patient dose. CONCLUSION: The minicolumn system is safe, simple, rapid and reliable for the quality control analysis of routine 99mTCHMPAO preparations.