Evaluation of a commercial radiochromatography module as an arterial blood activity monitor

Input functions required for positron emission tomography (PET) tracer kinetic modeling are often obtained from arterial blood. In some situations, using short-lived radiotracers, e.g. [(15)O]water, rapid sample handling is required. A method used at several facilities is to pump blood through a det...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Physics in medicine & biology 2008-01, Vol.53 (2), p.339-351
Main Authors: Laymon, C M, Sashin, D, Carney, J P, Ruszkiewicz, J, Altenburger, D, Becker, C R, Lopresti, B J, Mason, N S, Mountz, J M, Price, J C, Schavey, R, Mathis, C A
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Arteries - metabolism
Blood - diagnostic imaging
Blood Chemical Analysis - instrumentation
Blood Chemical Analysis - methods
Chromatography - instrumentation
Chromatography - methods
Equipment Design
Equipment Failure Analysis
Humans
Positron-Emission Tomography - instrumentation
Radiochemistry - instrumentation
Radiochemistry - methods
Radiometry - instrumentation
Radiometry - methods
Radiopharmaceuticals - blood
Reproducibility of Results
Sensitivity and Specificity
Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted - instrumentation
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Summary:Input functions required for positron emission tomography (PET) tracer kinetic modeling are often obtained from arterial blood. In some situations, using short-lived radiotracers, e.g. [(15)O]water, rapid sample handling is required. A method used at several facilities is to pump blood through a detector system at a constant rate. We investigate the suitability of a commercial radiochromatography module (IN/US Posi-RAM) for this new use. The Posi-RAM consists of two 2.5 cm (length) x 2.5 cm (diameter) cylindrical bismuth germanate (BGO) detectors that can operate in coincidence mode. Arterial blood is transported through the system via a length of tubing with flow rate controlled by a peristalsis pump. A custom-counting loop and support frame were designed for the Posi-RAM for PET studies. System sensitivity was determined to be 1.1 x 10(4) cps/(MBq ml(-1)). Dead time as a function of count-rate was found to be less than 1% for concentrations below 3.5 MBq ml(-1), a range encompassing all human-study values. In a human study, the performance of the device was found to be similar to that of the facility's current blood monitor (Siemens Fluid Monitor). We conclude that the Posi-RAM has the necessary sensitivity and count-rate capabilities to be used as a real-time blood activity monitor.
ISSN:0031-9155
1361-6560
DOI:10.1088/0031-9155/53/2/003