Quality control of radiopharmaceuticals and diagnostic nuclear medicine equipment

Quality control (QC) in nuclear medicine (NM) is used to detect deterioration or irregularities with respect to the imaging device (e.g. the gamma camera), the dose calibrator, or the radiopharmaceutical. National Regulatory Authority (RA) regulations and requirements have an essential role to play in improving diagnostic image quality (IQ) and reduction of radiation dose to patients. To-date, little attention has been given to IQ and instrument QC in Sudan, including gamma cameras, dose calibrators, and radiopharmaceuticals. The aim of the present work was to evaluate the current QC application status of NM equipment and radiopharmaceuticals in Sudan. All existing five NM Departments in the country were included in this survey and data was collected using a questionnaire. The survey data showed that for gamma cameras and radiopharmaceuticals, the level of implementation for the recommended QC tests was 60% and 35%, respectively, and as such they are not fully compliant with international recommendations. Dose calibrators, however, were complying with the international QC recommendations (75%). These results highlight the need for awareness and training programmes in IQ and patient dose control. The study concludes that the operation of NM equipment in the country is inadequate and does not ensure good quality images for diagnosis, patients also potentially receiving unnecessary radiation dose due to the lack of a proper QC program. Compliance with the national RA regulations is necessary to improve IQ and seek optimum patient dose.