Labelled OIH has a significantly higher clearance than other radiopharmaceutical yet developed and is eminently suitable for renography.

In patients with normally functioning kidneys, 85% of the OIH may be found in the urine 30 minutes after intravenous injection.

131I has a half-life of 8 days and emits high-energy γ rays (364 keV) in addition to β particles.

The introduction of OIH labelled with 123I, with its short physical half-life (13 hours) and its gamma emission of 159 keV has greatly improved the diagnostic potential of renal studies by combining the production of high-quality functional images with the ability to derive a renogram.

The only factor limiting its widespread use is restricted availability and the expense involved in its cyclotron production.