A global shortage of Tc-99m, the isotope (drug) used for many nuclear medicine exams, will impact nuclear medicine services Monday, November 14, through Monday, November 28.
Limited availability for nuclear medicine appointments, reduced hours, and potential product shortages are expected due to production decreases of international isotope reactors.
Nuclear medicine departments will allocate remaining supplies to provide services while radiopharmaceuticals are available. To help address shortages, please consider the following recommendations:
Nuclear Medicine (NM) Stress Testing:
Outpatient recommendation for NM Stress test and NM myocardial perfusion imaging:
- Consider ordering PET stress test as a NM Stress test alternative.
- For patients who can tolerate exercise, consider stress echo.
- For low-risk and younger patients, consider cardiac CTA.
- If stress test is needed for surgery clearance, please add surgery date to comment section.
Inpatient recommendation for NM Stress Test/NM myocardial perfusion imaging
- Consider cardiac cath.
- If patient is stable, consider discharge and order NM Stress test as an outpatient exam.
- Consult cardiology for evaluation.
*In-patients will not be transferred to KHMC for PET stress testing.
General Nuclear Medicine:
In-patient and emergent studies such as lung scans, GI bleeds, and gallbladder scans may experience delays due to drug availability.
Please place orders and page Nuclear Medicine technologists per protocol.
Delays resulting from limited drug availability will be communicated by on-call technologist.
- For all in-patient orders, consider discharge and outpatient testing if the patient’s condition is stable.
- NM bone scan for infection, order PET/CT infection imaging.
- STAT exams may be deferred to the following day while supplies remain in stock.
- Consider alternative exams
- NM lung scans/NM ventilation and perfusion, consider CTA.
- NM Gallbladder, consider US or CT.
- NM GI Bleed, consider CTA.
Please contact Rachael Sammet, director of nuclear medicine at (937) 395-8611 with questions.