Experimental determination of calibration settings for plastic syringes containing solutions of 90Y using commercial radionuclide calibrators

Calibration factors for several makes (Capintec, AtomLab, and PTW) and models of commercially available re-entrant ionization chambers (“dose calibrators”) were determined for solutions of 90Y using 10 ml plastic syringes that are used in the administration of the recently approved radioimmunotherapy drug Zevalin®. Effects of filling volume on chamber response were studied for the anticipated prescription volume range of 3–9 ml in those syringes. A series of syringes were prepared over that range with accurately known volumes using a “standard” solution containing 90YCl3 in 1 mol l−1 HCl and approximately 50 μg of nonradioactive YCl3 per gram of solution. The respective calibration factors for the Capintec and AtomLab chambers required to give the correct activity reading were found to be “55±2×10” and 393±6, where the uncertainties are expanded (k=2) uncertainties. The results indicated no significant effect of filling volume on the calibration setting to within the uncertainty on the activity measurement for all but the PTW chamber. In that case, a variation of about 5% was observed over the filling range. A direct comparison was also made between the actual 90Y Zevalin® drug and the “standard” solution, with no differences in determined calibration settings observed within the uncertainties on the activity calibration.