PET-CT Patient Injection Guide

Last Updated

August 29, 2024

The day before your scan

Production of your individual injection is performed using specialist equipment called a Cyclotron and usually begins at 1pm.

The production process makes radioactive tracers - this involves the the attachment of glucose to a radioisotope of Fluorine.

This is a lengthy process and requires a number of steps to make sure the correct material is produced and safe to use.

During the journey

During the time the injections are on the road, our pharmacy technician at the production centre tests a sample of the injections for quality.

This ensures that the injections are safe to use.

Once passed, the qualified person issues a release certificate to the local PET-CT centre to enable them to use the injections.

Contacting us

If you require this information in a different format please let us know via customercare@alliance.co.uk

For further information please contact us on:

Phone: 01926 482222

Email: sales@alliance.co.uk

Visit: www.alliancemedical.co.uk

The morning of your scan

The first batch of injections are dispatched under quarantine at around 6am in order to reach your local PET-CT centre in time for your appointment. The radioactive tracer used for your injection is only active for a short period of time; it gradually becomes less active and no longer of use. For this reason the injections are sent before testing, as they may have to travel a significant distance to the PET-CT centre. Further injections are sent in batches throughout the day due to the short life of the radiation.

If the injection is unacceptable

On occasion, the testing may show the quality of the injection is below acceptable limits and these cannot be used. In this instance, we may have to cancel your scan.

We understand that cancelling your appointment is inconvenient and can be very frustrating; you may also have had a long and wasted journey.

We will try to contact you prior to your appointment via the telephone numbers we have been given to let you know if this has happened. Please keep your phone handy so we can call you.