Collaboration secures radioisotope supply to support US medical scans

[Marlin]

Collaboration secures radioisotope supply to support US medical scans

https://www.ornl.gov/news/collaboration-secures-radioisotope-supply-to-support-us-medical-scans/

[Core Content]

Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the Missouri University Research Reactor established a domestic supply chain for gadolinium-153. The radioisotope is used to calibrate single-photon emission computed tomography scanners for medical diagnostics.

The Department of Energy initiative bypassed international supply disruptions that threatened U.S. health care facilities. Researchers developed specialized chromatographic separation techniques to purify source material on a commercial scale, highlighting the operational value of national laboratories in maintaining critical medical isotope pipelines.

Every day, U.S. health providers and their patients rely on 3D medical scans that can diagnose heart disease, pinpoint the source of seizures and detect cancers that have spread to bones. Few realize these specialized scans use a rare but essential radioactive isotope — and its availability was recently at risk. In 2023, international production

Find the information, people and opportunities you're looking for.

Ensuring U.S. leadership in the development, manufacture, and deployment of materials, chemistries, and components for energy and security applications.

Leading the biotechnology revolution to ensure American energy, food security, global competitiveness, and human health.

Read the full article at ornl.gov:
https://www.ornl.gov/news/collaboration-secures-radioisotope-supply-to-support-us-medical-scans/