Nuclear pharmacy involves the preparation of radioactive materials for diagnosis and treatment in nuclear medicine. Pharmacists working in nuclear pharmacy are responsible for calculating dosages, ordering, transferring, transporting, and dispensing radiopharmaceuticals using protective measures. Radiopharmaceuticals must be stored, distributed, and transported according to strict safety regulations due to their radioactive nature. The role of the nuclear pharmacist is important for ensuring radiopharmaceuticals are properly prepared and administered to patients.

1. NUCLEAR PHARMACY
PRESENTED BY
RAAVI MANIDEEPIKA
4TH PHARMD
14AB1T0021
UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF
DR.G.RAMESH
DEPARTMENT OF PHARMACY PRACTICE
VIGNAN PHARMACY COLLEGE, VADLAMUDI 1

2. CONTENTS
• DEFINITION
• RESPONSIBILITIES OF PHARMACISTS IN USING RADIO ISOTOPES
• ROLE OF PHARMACIST IN ISOTOPE PHARMACY
• STORAGE AND PROCUREMENT
• DISPENSING OF RADIOPHARMACEUTICALS
• DISTRIBUTION OF RADIOPHARMACEUTICALS
• TRANSPORTATION OF RADIOPHARMACEUTICALS
• CONCLUSION
• REFERENCES

3. DEFINITION
• Nuclear pharmacy, also known as radio pharmacy, involves preparation of
radioactive materials for patient administration that will be used to diagnose and
treat specific diseases in nuclear medicine.
(or)
• Nuclear pharmacy is a special area committed to the dispensing and compounding
of radioactive materials for nuclear medicine activities. it’s a specialty pharmacy
area, and it’s one that necessitates having a knowledge in a specific field.

4. RESPONSIBILITIES OF PHARMACISTS IN USING
RADIO ISOTOPES
• To use all appropriate protective measures, such as protective clothing,
respiratory protection ,remote pipetting devices ,ventilated and shielded glove
box and hoods
• To prohibit smoking and eating in radio isotope laboratories
• To check working area daily or after each radio isotope procedure
• To maintain good lab practices ,such as keeping working area and equipment
clean and orderly
• To use proper labels on equipment being used with radioactive materials
• To place all active waste in proper containers ,equipped with proper labels
• To report immediately the details of a spill or other accident involving
radioactive substances to the radiation safety officer
• To conduct decontamination procedures as directed by the radiation safety
officer

5. ROLE OF PHARMACIST IN ISOTOPE PHARMACY
• When a physician decides to use a radio isotope, he explains his requirement to the
pharmacist directly
• The pharmacist makes necessary calculations in order to arrive at the required dosage
• He places order for the same as per the procedure explained before, or if it is already
available ,he transfers the required quantity using a remote controlled pipette from the
stock container to paper cup placed inside a lead container
• It is then safely transported to the isotope administration room
• Then it is the duty of the radiation safety officer to follow the procedures for safe
administration and disposal of isotopes
• Thus , it is a patient oriented service which requires scientific knowledge , patience and
responsible behaviour by all concerned

6. STORAGE AND PROCUREMENT
• Isotopes storage area should be as per the rules there should be a separate lab for
the manipulation
• Preparation of radiopharmaceuticals dosage forms and a counting area for the
calibration of the dose.
• Treatment room should also be different.

7. DISPENSING OF RADIOPHARMACEUTICALS
• Radiopharmaceuticals never go delivery to the patient.
• They are provide to trained health care professionals at the hospital or clinic and
then administered to the patient therefore radiopharmaceuticals are dispensed in a
unit dose.
• Patient factors such as age, weight, surface area, gamma, camera sensitivity must
be weighed and consider by the pharmacist with each other.
• If the pharmacist dosage form of radiopharmaceuticals if used they should be
administered by aseptic techniques.

8. DISTRIBUTION OF RADIOPHARMACEUTICALS
• Radio pharmaceuticals should be distributed with in a health care facility.
• Lead lined syringes container shipped in approved cases are used with
appropriate identifying information.

9. TRANSPORTATION OF RADIOPHARMACEUTICALS
• Transportation by railways
• Transportation by water
• Transportation by roads
• Transportation by airways

10. CONCLUSION
• Radioactive isotope usage in hospital is steadily increasing and hence, people
concerned with its use and administrators felt the need to develop a separate
wing-nuclear pharmacy
• Nuclear pharmacy if established in a hospital will have centralized responsibility
for the dissemination of information , purchase , use, storage, disposal , and
monitoring of these potentially dangerous materials.

11. REFERENCES
• A text book of hospital and clinical pharmacy by n.narayanan pg no: 123-128
• www.wikipedia //nuclear pharmacy.//com