Lesson 1Injection technique to minimize extravasation: vein selection, tourniquet use, aspiration check, flushing, and securing injection siteThis lesson covers IV injection methods to reduce extravasation, including vein choice, tourniquet application, aspiration, flushing, and site securing. It explains spotting, recording, and handling infiltration.
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 levelsThis lesson addresses contamination control, including regular surveys, wipe tests, limits, and responses. It emphasises recording, decontamination, and prevention in nuclear medicine settings.
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 considerationsThis lesson reviews dose calculations with time, activity, and weight, including adjustments for weight, decay, and children or overweight patients, following protocols and rules.
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 rangesThis lesson reviews common Tc-99m tracers, their uses, routes, and adult activity ranges, stressing correct choice, labelling, and recording for heart and bone imaging.
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 correctionsThis lesson details daily dose calibrator use, including background checks, constancy tests, geometry, isotope settings, and time corrections, with focus on quality records and fixes.
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 documentationThis lesson explains verifying activity before and after giving it, using dose calibrator, syringe methods, tare weights, and accurate patient record documentation.
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 guidanceThis lesson covers key post-injection advice, like toilet use, hydration, contact limits, and breastfeeding tips to cut radiation exposure while keeping image quality good.
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 traysThis lesson details safe handling, packing, and moving of tracers, focusing on vials, syringes, shielding, labelling, and rules to reduce exposure and errors.
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 layoutThis lesson applies ALARA principles of time, distance, shielding to daily work, room setup, and patient scheduling to lower staff dose and meet regulations.
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
