The absolute standardization methods of 32P for calibrate nuclear medicine instruments in Indonesia

Abstract

The absolute standardization of 32P radioactive sources employed to calibrate nuclear medicine instruments has been conducted at PTKMR-BATAN. We deemed this activity to be necessary since 32P used in the nuclear medicine fields has a short half-life, and in order to obtain a result of quality measurement, it requires a special treatment. Moreover, in Indonesia, the use of nuclear medicine techniques has developed rapidly. We prepared all the radioactive sources with a gravimetric method by using a KERN ABT 220-5DM semi-micro type scale, traceable to the International Unit System. We conducted the 32P standardization by employing a 4πβ(PS)-γ coincidence method with 60Co as a tracer; meanwhile, we conducted the impurity measurement by employing a beta spectrometer system. The result of 32P absolute measurement was 380.05 Bq/mg with a 0.68-percent range uncertainty, with a k=2 coverage factor. This value was used to calibrate a "Capintec CRC-7BT" dose calibrator that was a secondary standard instrument in PTKMR-BATAN. The results showed us that the calibration factor of the "Capintec CRC-7BT" dose calibrator was 1.12 with a 4.7-percent uncertainty.