Lesson 1Injection Technique to Minimize Extravasation: Vein Selection, Tourniquet Use, Aspiration Check, Flushing, and Securing Injection SiteCovers IV injection methods to reduce extravasation risks, including vein choice, tourniquet application, aspiration, flushing, and site securing. It also explains spotting, recording, and handling infiltration in Eritrea.
Patient assessment and vein selection criteriaTourniquet placement and vein visualizationAspiration check and slow, steady injectionSaline flush technique and line patency checksSecuring the injection site and patient positioningRecognizing and documenting infiltrationsLesson 2Contamination Control and Surveys: Wipe Tests, Use of Survey Meters, Frequency, Acceptable Limits, and Action LevelsAddresses contamination management in nuclear medicine, covering regular surveys, wipe tests, limits, and responses. Emphasizes records, decontamination, and prevention tactics suited to Eritrean labs.
Types of contamination and common sourcesUse and limitations of survey metersPerforming and interpreting wipe testsSurvey frequency and regulatory expectationsAction levels, decontamination, and re-surveyRecordkeeping and trend analysis for hotspotsLesson 3Dose Calculations Using Time, Activity, and Patient Weight: Weight-Based Adjustments, Decay Correction, and Pediatric/Obese ConsiderationsReviews calculating doses with time, activity, and weight, including adjustments for weight, decay fixes, and special needs for children and overweight patients, following protocols and rules in Eritrea.
Basic activity, time, and decay relationshipsUsing decay factors and half-life tablesWeight-based adult dosing calculationsPediatric dosing and minimum activity limitsAdjustments for obese or very small adultsChecking calculations against protocol rangesLesson 4Common Radiopharmaceuticals and Administration Routes: Tc-99m Sestamibi/Tetrofosmin for Myocardial Perfusion (IV), Tc-99m MDP for Bone Scan (IV); Typical Adult Activity RangesReviews key technetium-99m tracers, their uses, routes, and adult dose ranges, focusing on proper choice, labeling, and recording for heart and bone imaging in Eritrean facilities.
Tc-99m sestamibi: indications and adult dose rangeTc-99m tetrofosmin: indications and adult dose rangeTc-99m MDP: indications and adult dose rangeIntravenous administration steps and checksContraindications and common adverse reactionsDocumentation of product, lot, and administered doseLesson 5Dose Calibrator Operation: Daily Background Check, Constancy Test, Geometry Considerations, Setting Correct Isotope and Time-of-Measurement CorrectionsDetails daily dose calibrator routines, including background checks, constancy tests, geometry factors, isotope settings, and time corrections, with focus on quality records and fixes in Eritrea.
Daily background and constancy proceduresQuarterly accuracy and linearity testing basicsGeometry dependence and volume considerationsSelecting correct isotope and calibration factorTime-of-measurement and decay correctionsQC documentation, trends, and troubleshootingLesson 6Activity Verification Steps: Measuring Drawn and Administered Activity, Syringe Technique, Tare Weight Method, and DocumentationExplains verifying activity pre- and post-administration with a calibrator, covering syringe methods, residual checks, tare techniques, and precise patient record entries for Eritrean standards.
Pre-injection activity measurement in calibratorSyringe positioning and reproducible geometryMeasuring residual activity after injectionTare method for syringe and shield correctionsCalculating net administered activityRecording activity, time, and technologist IDLesson 7Post-Injection Precautions for Patients: Restroom Use, Hydration, Discharge Instructions, and Breastfeeding GuidanceCovers vital post-injection advice on restroom use, hydration, contact limits, and breastfeeding, to cut radiation exposure to others while keeping image quality intact in Eritrea.
Immediate restroom use and bladder emptyingHydration strategies to enhance tracer clearanceLimiting close contact with infants and pregnant womenWritten discharge instructions and key counseling pointsBreastfeeding interruption and milk storage guidanceWhen to escalate concerns to the nuclear medicine physicianLesson 8Safe Handling and Transport of Radiopharmaceuticals: Vial Handling, Needle/Syringe Best Practices, Use of Lead Shielding and Dose TraysDetails safe managing, packing, and moving of radiopharmaceuticals, emphasizing vial care, syringe prep, shielding, labeling, and rules to reduce exposure and avoid errors in Eritrean transport.
Receiving, unpacking, and inspecting shipmentsVial handling, venting, and aseptic techniqueNeedle and syringe selection and secure assemblyUse of lead pigs, syringe shields, and dose traysLabeling, transport containers, and DOT categoriesSpill prevention during preparation and transportLesson 9Radiation Protection Principles (ALARA): Time, Distance, Shielding Applied to Technologist Workflow and Room LayoutApplies ALARA ideas of time, distance, and shielding to daily work, room setup, and patient scheduling, offering practical ways to lower staff dose and meet regulations in Eritrea.
Time minimization during high-exposure tasksMaximizing distance using layout and toolsOptimizing shielding for staff and public areasRoom design, hot lab zoning, and traffic flowUse of dosimeters and review of exposure reportsPregnant worker considerations and declarations
