Ionizing
Radiation
Division

Radiopharmaceutical Program

The SRMs are prepared by dispensing a known, reproducible amount of solution (usually 5 mL) containing the radionuclide of interest into glass ampoules. Because of the large number of ampoules that must be prepared and the high radiation levels present, much of the work is done using a "hot cell," or shielded laboratory hood. The lead shielding protects the workers from high levels of radiation, while the manipulator arms, or "tongs" permit objects in the hot cell to be manipulated from behind the shielding.