Lesson 1Injection Technique to Minimise Extravasation: Vein Selection, Tourniquet Use, Aspiration Check, Flushing, and Securing Injection SiteThis part covers IV injection methods to reduce extravasation, including vein choice, tourniquet application, aspiration, flushing, and site securing, plus spotting, recording, and handling infiltration incidents.
Patient assessment and vein selection criteriaTourniquet placement and vein visualisationAspiration check and slow, steady injectionSaline flush technique and line patency checksSecuring the injection site and patient positioningRecognising and documenting infiltrationsLesson 2Contamination Control and Surveys: Wipe Tests, Use of Survey Meters, Frequency, Acceptable Limits, and Action LevelsThis part addresses contamination control in nuclear medicine, including regular surveys, wipe tests, acceptable limits, and response steps, with focus on recording, decontamination, and prevention in busy departments.
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 Paediatric/Obese ConsiderationsThis part reviews dose calculation methods using time, activity, and patient weight, including weight-based dosing, decay adjustments, and changes for children and overweight patients while following protocols and rules.
Basic activity, time, and decay relationshipsUsing decay factors and half-life tablesWeight-based adult dosing calculationsPaediatric 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 tracers, their uses, administration methods, and typical adult activity levels, 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 part details routine dose calibrator use, including background checks, constancy testing, 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 it using a dose calibrator, including syringe methods, residual measurement, tare techniques, and accurate recording in patient files.
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 post-injection advice, including toilet use, hydration, contact limits, and breastfeeding tips, to cut radiation exposure to family, public, and staff 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 counselling 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 radiopharmaceuticals, focusing on vial management, syringe prep, shielding, labelling, and rules to reduce exposure and avoid loss or errors.
Receiving, unpacking, and inspecting shipmentsVial handling, venting, and aseptic techniqueNeedle and syringe selection and secure assemblyUse of lead pigs, syringe shields, and dose traysLabelling, 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 principles of time, distance, and shielding to technologist routines, room setup, and patient scheduling, highlighting practical ways to lower work dose and meet regulatory limits.
Time minimisation during high-exposure tasksMaximising distance using layout and toolsOptimising shielding for staff and public areasRoom design, hot lab zoning, and traffic flowUse of dosimeters and review of exposure reportsPregnant worker considerations and declarations
