Nuclear pharmacy

[1][2] Radiopharmaceuticals are generally not designed to have a therapeutic effect themselves, but there is a risk to staff from radiation exposure and to patients from possible contamination in production.

[6] The concept of nuclear pharmacy was first described in 1960 by Captain William H. Briner while at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Bethesda, Maryland.

[7][8] John Christian and William Briner were both active on key national committees responsible for the development, regulation and utilization of radiopharmaceuticals.

PET radiopharmaceuticals are now often produced by automated computer controlled systems to reduce complexity and radiation doses to staff.

[14] Staff working in nuclear pharmacies require extensive training on aspects of good manufacturing practice, radiation safety concerns and aseptic dispensing.