The Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) announced a “significant shortage” of molybdenum-99 (Mo-99) during the first half of November due to operations issues at various facilities.
“The NTP facility in South Africa, which has experienced problems since late last year, has not yet been able to return to service,” read a statement issued by SNMMI. “The NTP shutdown coincides with a planned 11-day shutdown of the OPAL reactor in Australia that began October 29, so significant shortages of Mo-99 are anticipated starting in early November.”
The SNMMI noted users should contact their generator or nuclear pharmacy providers to assess the local impact of the shortage.
As a senior news writer for TriMed, Subrata covers cardiology, clinical innovation and healthcare business. She has a master’s degree in communication management and 12 years of experience in journalism and public relations.