Ultra clean cleaning process for radiopharmaceutical reusable pigs
A process for cleaning reusable canisters known as pigs which contain radioactive drugs and may contain residual radioactive material and other contaminants. Those pigs that are contaminated with radio-active material are removed from the cleaning process until they have decayed to the background radiation level, cleaned and disinfected. Within a very clean drug preparation area a radioactive drug is inserted into the pig and the pig is placed in a protective outer container. At a treatment site the outer container and pig are delivered to a clean treatment area where the pig is removed from the outer container and the drug is removed from the pig and utilized.
1. In a process for cleaning a radiopharmaceutical reusable pig having a lower portion, a cap, and a syringe or vial containment enclosure, comprising the steps of:
scanning the pig with a radiation detection device to detect the presence of radioactivity at a radiation level above background level;
upon detecting the presence of radioactivity at said radiation level, causing said pig to cease exhibiting said radioactivity; and
sanitizing the pig to destroy any microorganisms and remove any blood contamination from said pig;
the improvement comprising the additional steps of:
transporting the ceased exhibiting radioactivity and sanitized pig to a drug preparation area suitable for dispensing a drug for human use;
within the drug preparation area, inserting a syringe or vial containing a radioactive drug into the containment enclosure and assembling the cap to the lower portion of the pig;
within the drug preparation area, placing the assembled pig containing the drug, in a protective outer container to protect the pig from external contamination during handling and transportation; and
placing the protective outer container containing the pig, in a transportation receptacle.
2. The improvement according to claim 1 , comprising the additional step of sterilizing or sanitizing the pig after said pig is in the drug preparation area and prior to inserting a syringe or vial into the containment enclosure thereof.
3. The improvement according to claim 1 , comprising the additional step of sterilizing or sanitizing the protective outer container before the pig is placed within it.
4. In a process for cleaning a radiopharmaceutical reusable pig having a lower portion, a cap, and a syringe or vial containment enclosure, comprising the steps of:
scanning the pig to detect the presence of radio-activity at a radiation level above background level;
upon detecting the presence of radioactivity at said radiation level, causing said pig to cease exhibiting said radioactivity; and
sanitizing the pig to destroy any microorganisms and remove any blood contamination from said pig;
the improvement comprising the additional steps of:
transporting the ceased exhibiting radioactivity and sanitized pig to a drug preparation area suitable for dispensing a drug for human use;
sterilizing or sanitizing the pig after said pig is in the drug preparation area;
within the drug preparation area, inserting a syringe or vial containing a radioactive drug into the containment enclosure and assembling the cap to the lower portion of the pig;
within the drug preparation area, sterilizing a protective outer container for the pig;
within the drug preparation area, placing the assembled pig containing the drug, in the protective outer container to protect the pig from external contamination during handling and transportation; and
placing the protective outer container containing the pig, in a transportation receptacle.
5. The improvement according to claim 4 , comprising the additional steps of:
delivering the transportation receptacle to a drug utilization facility;
at said facility, removing the outer container from the transportation receptacle;
delivering the removed outer container to a drug utilization area within the facility; and
within the drug utilization area, sterilizing the protective outer container before removing the pig from the container.