Lesson 1Injection technique to minimize extravasation: vein selection, tourniquet use, aspiration check, flushing, and securing injection siteThis part covers IV injection methods to reduce leakage, including picking veins, using tourniquets, checking aspiration, flushing, and stabilizing sites, plus spotting, noting, and handling leaks.
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 part deals with preventing contamination in nuclear medicine, including regular checks, wipe tests, limits, and response steps, with focus on records, cleaning methods, and avoidance tactics.
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 part reviews calculating doses with time, activity, and weight, including weight dosing, decay fixes, and changes for children and overweight patients while following rules and limits.
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 part reviews common technetium-99m drugs, their uses, giving methods, and usual adult amounts, stressing right choice, labeling, and records for heart and bone scans.
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 part details daily use of dose calibrators, including background checks, constancy tests, geometry effects, isotope settings, and time corrections, with emphasis on quality records and fixing issues.
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 part explains verifying activity before and after giving using a calibrator, including syringe methods, leftover checks, tare ways, and accurate patient record notes.
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 part explains key after-injection advice, including toilet use, drinking, contact limits, and breastfeeding tips, to cut radiation to family, public, and staff while keeping image quality.
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 part details safe handling, packing, and moving of radioactive drugs, focusing on vial care, syringe prep, shielding, labeling, and rules to reduce exposure and avoid loss or wrong giving.
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 part applies ALARA rules of time, distance, and shielding to worker routines, room setup, and patient scheduling, showing practical ways to lower work dose and check rule compliance.
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
