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Pharmer3 t1_j6z6k04 wrote

Pharmacist who used to work in a nuclear pharmacy - they don’t keep it in stock! Doses are custom made for each patient every day at a (usually) offsite nuclear pharmacy, and then a van delivers them to the imaging center so they can be injected at precisely the right time to deliver the prescribed dose of radiation for the imaging! Logistically, it doesn’t make sense for most medical centers to have their own nuclear pharmacy, so one location will service large metropolitan areas. Happy to answer any addition questions!

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Sabeo_FF t1_j6zy480 wrote

A 'nuclear pharmacy' is an amazingly sounding concept.

I mean, its obvious what it is, but still lovely to let the imagination to run about.

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edwwsw t1_j701udy wrote

It's an application area if you graduate with a Phd in nuclear physics. I worked with several physicists when I was in medical imaging. They dealt with dosimetry in radiation therapy.

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baseketball t1_j73lswd wrote

I wish they would talk more about potential jobs for different areas of college studies. I always thought for nuclear physics you just work at some power plant.

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whatnodeaddogwilleat t1_j71u7ig wrote

Lovely, thank you. I've seen the process in action and noticed there was a specific representative "responsible" for the medicine, but never thought to question the process or logistics vis a vis half life. So neat!

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Itsjustbeej t1_j7323nf wrote

I work in pharma and met a guy who does these logistics for a living. It was FASCINATING.

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Janezo t1_j70r1g2 wrote

How are famuly members of those patients protected from exposure? It seems like a sneeze or a cough could release radioactive material into the air of the patient’s home.

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Tupcek t1_j71084n wrote

it has six hours half-life. In 24 hours, only 6% remain and in 48 hours 0,4%

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carrotaddiction t1_j711d9z wrote

and that's without factoring in its biological halflife. Most of it goes down the toilet.

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celo753 t1_j71cvem wrote

If it’s safe to have it injected it in you, it’s safe to be around someone who will cough out maybe 0.001% of what they had injected into them. Especially with such a short half life

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jqbr t1_j72cy8y wrote

Who said it's safe? Risk is relative.

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paroxybob t1_j73nity wrote

Not have the medical imaging done seems more risky health wise then some radiation.

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jqbr t1_j74qhqy wrote

Exactly. But that doesn't mean that the radiation is "safe", which is what I responded to.

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