Technetium generators are used for repeated production of sterile sodium pertechnetate solution with technetium-99m (eluate). Radiopharmaceutical agents based on sodium pertechnetate with technetium-99m are used to scan brain, thyroid and salivary glands, for radionuclide angiocardiography and ventriculography, as well as for selective examination of liver, lungs, bones, kidneys, etc. Generators allow repeated production of radionuclides directly in situ by separating the genetically related parent and daughter radionuclides.
World production of “medical” technetium reaches several tons a year, which provides performance of 30 million medical treatment procedures. Almost 80% of all activity in the nuclear medicine depends on supplies of molybdenum-99, medical radionuclide used to manufacture technetium-99m generators — the basic diagnostic radionuclide of the modern nuclear medicine. Rosatom enterprises are the basic suppliers of technetium generators in Russia: branch of the Physical and Chemical Institute named after L.Ya.Karpov and IPPE (Institute for Physics and Power Engineering named after A.I. Lejpunsky), both located in Obninsk. Molybdenum is mainly produced in Rosatom Scientific Research Institute of Nuclear Reactors located in Dimitrovgrad. The second line of production was launched there last year.
Advantages of the Russian technetium generator are that it is delivered to clinics completely in ready for operation, has optimum weight and dimensional parameters of the protective generator container while preserving radiation and biological properties. Generator is designed to prevent radioactive exposure of the medical personnel, it is reliable and easy-to-use (one needle is used for elution).
Custom shop of technetium-99m generators loading will be set up in Obninsk branch of NIFHI in the first quarter of this year. This will allow the enterprise adjusting equipment deliveries. «We provide the Russian market in full. We plan to start test deliveries to the international market this year», — Vladimir Gremyachkin, the enterprise director, informed in the beginning of January.
And now there was the first delivery to Armenia. As of now, the generators are manufactured not in the new shop, but using the available facilities. Experts from both parties have prepared in the shortest terms the necessary documentation to organize the delivery and have addressed the issues related to logistics and custom formalities. According to the contract, it is planned to deliver monthly technetium-99m generators and their diagnostic sets to the Center within 2015. Further it is planned to increase volumes of deliveries, as well as to widen cooperation with Armenian clinics working in the sphere of nuclear medicine.
