What is the shelf-life of Technetium-99m (Tc-99m)?

The shelf-life of Technetium-99m (Tc-99m) is approximately 6 hours. This short half-life makes Tc-99m particularly useful in nuclear medicine, as it allows for a rapid decay of radioactivity post-imaging, minimizing the patient's exposure to radiation while still providing excellent diagnostic images. The radioisotope is generated from Molybdenum-99, which decays to Tc-99m and is often used in various imaging procedures, such as bone scans, cardiac imaging, and other diagnostic nuclear medicine applications.

The relatively quick decay time allows for the radiopharmaceutical to be administered shortly after its preparation, ensuring that the isotope is still sufficiently active during the imaging process. After about 6 hours, the radioactivity decreases significantly, which is beneficial for both patient safety and the accuracy of diagnostic readings.