Validation of an automated dose-dispensing system for 18F-FDG administrations and associated reduction in operator extremity dose.

Objective: The current procedure at our centre for partitioning multidose vials of fluorine-18-fluorodeoxyglucose (F-FDG) is based on a manual method. To reduce extremity dose while reducing contamination risk, maintaining product sterility and improving the accuracy of injected activity, we recently purchased a new semiautomated partitioning system (μDDS-A). This work reports on the operating characteristics of the system and its validation for clinical use in terms of dispensing accuracy and extremity dose reduction.

Methods: A range of operators carried out 300 automated partitioning procedures by following a typical working-day setup. The accuracy of the activity resulting from system partitioning compared with true syringe activity was determined. We also determined the precision of system-determined activity when compared with user-requested activity. The cumulative finger dose for automated and manual partitioning techniques was measured at the fingertip using a digital dosimeter, recording the dose at different stages of the procedure.

Results: The results of comparisons made between the final syringe activity measured by the system and the measurement of the true syringe activity independently of the system were within ±5% for 96.63% of syringes. Precision of the syringe activity provided by the system with respect to the user-requested activity was within ±10% for 96.96% of measurements. Average finger doses compared with a manual partitioning method showed a reduction of up to 80% when relying only on the system measurement of activity.

Conclusion: The μDDS-A reproducibly partitions a vial of F-FDG and offers a significant reduction in extremity dose to the operator of up to 80% in comparison with a manual partition technique.